by Russell Roper

Created on: August 28, 2011

When you mention cooking venison people have a multitude of reactions. They complain of the smell and taste being too “wild” for them. This “wild” or gamy smell and taste is an issue that prevents many people from enjoying a very tasty, as well as, healthy dinner with their friends and family. However, it is not just the cook that has failed to eliminate this turnoff for others it starts much earlier than the frying pan.

The quickest, and easiest, manner in which to eliminate the dreaded gamy taste and smell from your meal of wild venison is to prevent the majority of it before hand. What is meant by this is to take early precautions prior, during, and after the hunt. Even if you are not the one that has harvested the deer, you can still eliminate much of the gamy taste and smell by being careful of who you accept venison from. If you know how the person hunts and cares for game you cut the gaminess of the meat by 50 percent. But, if you are the hunter, here are some methods to cut the gaminess of your own venison.

First, and foremost, be completely familiar with the weapon you use. Be sure to have the weapon sighted in prior to opening day. Spending a few days at the range will help you get used to your weapon again, while insuring it is at peak performance and accuracy. This will help prevent any problem issues during the hunt; of course, you can never anticipate every possible trouble spot.

Once you’ve got your weapon ready, the next preventive measure for good venison is the actual harvest. That means making a quality shot and proper field dressing. A quality shot is essential to prevent the deer from running very far, if at all. When game is taken cleanly the build up of adrenaline (epinephrine), testosterone, or estrogen does not build up to the point of affecting the muscle tissue. These are just few of what cause the gamy taste and smell in venison.

So, you were fortunate enough to make an awesome shot downing your eventual supper where it stood, but don’t get lazy now. Once you have down your prize you’ll need to prepare it for travel, it needs to be field dressed. If it is possible for you to hang the deer from a tree great, but if not, simply position the deer on slope or hill. Start with the deer’s legs pointing up hill, and then make your incision from the neck down to the vent. Follow the bone in a circle around the vent, once it is free simply pull it free from the inside. Once you have finished,

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