HuntingNet.com Forums

HuntingNet.com Forums (https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/)
-   Camp Cooking and Game Processing (https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/camp-cooking-game-processing-30/)
-   -   How to Get the Gamey Taste Out of Venison (https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/camp-cooking-game-processing/380830-how-get-gamey-taste-out-venison.html)

ng30345 04-19-2013 05:35 PM

Glad to hear the way others do it. When we age deer in a cooler for 10-14 days, it is true that it is somewhat soaking in water. It's also bleeding out. The end result is not bland any more than beef is bland. It tastes closer to beef instead of having that gamey twang to it. This means our wives and kids don't mind eating it. And that's half the battle.


Originally Posted by HuntAway (Post 4051926)
Might just as well set it in a tub of water. He may be aging it but from what I read he is blanching the meat. I think the taste would be rather bland doing this. Even beef has flavour and is not subjected to that kind of treatment.

You want good venison? Quick kill. Field dress asap. Keep the carcass clean. Skin asap. De-fat/ de-silverskin it. Cool the meat asap 32-34'F. If you want to age the meat, age it at 32-34'F and whatever the percentage of humidty and amount of draft on the meat as required for optimum ageing(google it). After ageing, trim, De-bone wrap and freeze.

Except for the ageing part, I try to do all of the above. I hunt bush deer (no farms in 20 miles) and they are every bit as good as their southern bretheren that eat soya beans and corn. My sister say's they taste wild..... She was used to the way my father used to take care of their deer at the "hunt camp". I gave her husband some meat done the way we process our "Northern" deer and she could not tell the difference. My mother used to soak roasts in salt and water overnight for the same reason.

Taste has very much to do with how they are prepared for the freezer. I will never take any meat to a butcher to process. They hang and freeze what they get and you get what you gave them. Hair, fat, bones and dirt included.

HA


big rockpile 04-20-2013 05:19 PM

Never had bad tasting Venison other than what my Son took to a processor.

Do all our own,if we take it home wash it out with Hide on,let it dry,skin and debone.Marrow gives it an off taste.

big rockpile

MZS 04-21-2013 05:38 AM


Originally Posted by ng30345 (Post 4051858)
Yes, the clean shot is a great idea. Supposedly a clean shot prevents the release of adrenaline which people have always talked about as adding to the gamey taste. I wish I had a way to hang a deer in 40 degree weather. We dont really have a place to do something like that.

That is why I quarter it right after skinning and removing surface fat and toss in the freezer when it is warm. The freezer chills it nicely and by the next day it is only partially frozen and easy to cut up (other than frozen fingers). So I guess it "ages" a day by doing this.

finnbear 04-21-2013 06:09 PM

Why go and spend all the time money and effort to get a deer if ya don't like the taste??? Kinda silly sounding to me....I did learn that if ya shoot a deer in the rut it tastes like CRAP!!!!!!!

Wilcam47 04-22-2013 08:03 AM


Originally Posted by finnbear (Post 4052639)
Why go and spend all the time money and effort to get a deer if ya don't like the taste??? Kinda silly sounding to me....I did learn that if ya shoot a deer in the rut it tastes like CRAP!!!!!!!

lol...I shot a couple bucks around that time...their glands stunk pretty bad...but they still made good chili...I heard to cut out the tarsal glands asap but I tried it and cant tell you if it did or didn't help...

I do think a quick kill, proper cleaning and good bleed/drain helps immensely...

bronko22000 04-23-2013 08:31 AM

I've found the best way to prepare venison is to let it hang for 7 - 10 days in a cooler, trim all the fat and silverskin off as previously mentioned. For seasoning all I use is a bit of seasoning salt and some fresh ground black pepper. Steaks get seared on a hot cast iron fry pan or grill for 2 1/2 - 3 mins per side. IMO taste better than any steakhouse steak out there. For a roast I use the same seaonings plus a slice or two of onion and a bit of minced garlic and one small bay leaf and put it in a pressure cooker on a rack for 60 mins with a cup of water and 3 beef bullion cubes.

Uncle Nicky 04-23-2013 10:30 AM


Originally Posted by finnbear (Post 4052639)
Why go and spend all the time money and effort to get a deer if ya don't like the taste??? Kinda silly sounding to me....

Yeah, I would agree...but still not as dumb as going golfing.:happy0157:

ng30345 04-23-2013 04:42 PM

The deboning part takes a bit of effort. I am guessing you dont debone the ribs? : ) Ha.


Originally Posted by big rockpile (Post 4052454)
Never had bad tasting Venison other than what my Son took to a processor.

Do all our own,if we take it home wash it out with Hide on,let it dry,skin and debone.Marrow gives it an off taste.

big rockpile


ng30345 04-23-2013 04:47 PM


Originally Posted by finnbear (Post 4052639)
Why go and spend all the time money and effort to get a deer if ya don't like the taste??? Kinda silly sounding to me....I did learn that if ya shoot a deer in the rut it tastes like CRAP!!!!!!!

There's a lot to hunting other than the meat. You may want to take a look at this article about why men hunt deer. And I do like the taste. After I've aged the meat, that is.
I hadn't heard the shooting in the rut idea before. That's interesting, although it makes it rather difficult. The best chances to take a nice buck are found during the rut.

bronko22000 04-24-2013 04:06 AM

A buck tasting like crap during the rut is an old wife's tale. Probably because the meat got tainted from the tarsal glands or whatever. The last 5 or 6 buck I shot were shot with my bow during the rut and they tasted just fine. In fact, I do believe I will go down in the freezer and pull out a couple streaks for supper.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:31 PM.


Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.