I can tell if a deer was shot during our early archery season versus later gun season. There are several people I know who can and we attribute it to the fact that during archery season(first season of the year) there is less adrenaline in the deer because it hasn't been running scared like they do during general gun season (last season of the year)
Something to consider is even if I killed a deer with my bow during gun season, it tastes the same as a gun shot deer. It is also tougher.

I have heard that also, but never really found it to be true.

I think it is a bit of a stretch to make that claim and have never personally found it to be true......though it sounds pretty good at first.

The only thing that I can think of that might effect taste with a deer taken with a bow vs a gun would be if the animal had been chased all over the place and they had a lactic acid build up in their muscles. I know this definitly changes the taste of an antelope if it is run across the country before it is shot.

sometimes I have thought the same thing, but it is probably just in my head! I know a butcher who swears that bow killed venison is by far superior to rifle kill, due to lack of trauma and better bleed out.

The only thing that I could see is if the animal is ran for miles & miles before shot that could affect the taste right?

I agree I've also heard this but to be able to say whether it's true ,I doubt it .If you take a young animal apposed to a older animal of course your gonna notice the difference You take the young deer by bow and the older deer by rifle ,now do you get the picture this is where they have probably got their theory .
Yes maybe if the deer ran for a mile this could change the taste as well .



nubo

the only time i have seen a noticible differance is if the deer has run far or been knocked down but not able to get up before it dies. In those cases i dont notice a different taste but a differance in the tenderness of the meat.

ahhhh I’d just hit 'em in the head with the 7mm and get 'em fast. Sounds gory I know, but that’s how I got my fist one, and it actually wasn't that messy. Plus it tasted GREAT!! but I guess I never really noticed the difference between a gun kill, or a bow kill

-Hoyt

my brothers point well proven!