I served a venison stew to family members the other night and, because of what I feared might be their sensitivities, neglected to mention that the meat was deer, rather than hormone-stuffed beef. All I got were compliments on how delicious the stew was. So how come you may have encountered gamey deer that tasted rank? It’s all in the care of the meat, I think, so here’s what to do:
1. Kill cleanly. There’s no reason that you can’t pass up bad shots in favor of a good one that ensures an instant kill. If your marksmanship isn’t good enough to accomplish that, practice (with a .22 – very cheap) until you can. I hunted with a fellow for a few years who was mean to me, which I could handle, but also cruel to animals. The day he dragged in a buck he’d shot seven times, starting with running shots and finishing an hour later when he tracked it down, was the end of our trips together. Bet his deer meat sucked too, with all the adrenaline pumped through the poor creature’s body.
2. Field dress immediately. The first time I did this I was alone and acting solely on book learning. It worked. Don’t puncture the intestines, don’t rush the job, and all will be well, but you want that animal gutted and cooling as soon as possible. I like hunting in the snow for many reasons but one is that there’s plenty of material handy for cleaning your hands and cooling your deer. Virginians don’t have that luxury.
3. Hang it? I don’t, because I don’t have the facilities (a meat locker, cooled to 35 degrees). So skin it, butcher it, wrap it and freeze it. Again, all this was available via books for me and is now on videos on the Internet. Lucky you.
4. Before cooking, trim again. Here’s the best cooking tool for venison I’ve found:
That’s right: a Rapala or other inexpensive, super-sharp fish filleting knife, usually around ten bucks at WalMarts. With it you can sit at your kitchen table and do the butchering job you wanted to do originally but didn’t have the time for. Trim off every scrap of fat still on the meat – unlike beef suet, deer fat sucks – and take off the bluish sheathing of whatever it is – membrane? – that is found on some sides of the meat. When you have nothing but clear red meat, you’re ready to cook.
And it will be delicious, as my unsuspecting family just learned.
White men can’t do this right.
For Road Kill Dress a Deer, Try:
Halfway through I got confused and thought this was advice for dealing with a recalcitrant Realtor… my bad!
Deer murderer
Carnivore!
That Rapala knife works well on them, too.
i’ll be loooking at you in a different way from now on…bambi killer….happy christmas..off to the left coast…
Here’s my theory, Glug Glug: I have complete respect for vegetarians who won’t eat meat. But for those who prefer their meat dished up on styrofoam trays at the supermarket, I believe it’s at least as ethical to be willing to do the whole process, from killing, butchering and then eating as it is to come in at the end of the process.
Besides, from what I read of a steer’s last months, a quick kill while free-ranging, dead before they hear the bullet that hits them, is probably a better way to go than being crammed in a cattle truck, crowded in a feed pen and than hung by the heels while someone slashes their throat.
And wild venison has never been fed antibiotics, growth hormone or meal made from ground up cows. Better that way, no?
Greenwich Gal loves a venison loin served with a delicious sour cherry and brandy glaze, wild rice and roasted winter veggies, yum. I wear fur, too. We are all part of the great food chain after all.
He could never be so foolish, GG, but do drop me a line if your husband ever stops appreciating you.
OMG, the shock comes not from your dissection of Bambi, but from your sucking up to Greenwich Gal!?? Tonight she curiously sounds like that Indian Chief who sometimes comments. Well, whatever turns you on….
Makes for easier reading than ‘Presents at the White House’.
OK – Non Militant Vegetarian – CF is just expressing his appreciation for a woman who understands the finer things in life – a delicious, organic, fresh choice cut of meat and a great mink. In this politically correct culture, most people would never admit to that. And in turn, Vegetarian, I will also suck up to CF – Greenwich Gal loves a strong, hunky, alpha male type who brings home the bacon, whether it is a load of venison or a fur coat…
Not a hunter myself, but have no issues with hunting and making sure whatever you hunt it legal and dead humanly.
Since even gutting a fish is too nasty for my taste, not a chance in hell I’m gutting a full size deer anytime soon.
You’ve gone and poisoned your family:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/48420.html