Besides the prep work in an animal, it depends on how old the animal is and what it has been eating. I used to hate rabbit,but discovered if I shot them in the fall when its mostly young ones that have never ate anything but fresh greens and such they are darn good. Same with spruce hen (dark meated grouse). with either of these two as an example if you shoot them in the winter they taste just like a pine tree.

Still havnt figured out when waterfowl tastes the best LOL! the best time for harvesting them is never Haha ANother animal that is really rank if you shoot it at the wrong time of year is Bull Caribou during the rut. Those things are hopeless if you get one that is all stunk up.