Top five wild game chow

[TommyH]

My taste buds must not work very well. I can't tell the difference in any wild game. Elk, moose, mule deer, blacktail deer, whitetail deer, antelope, bighorn sheep- I've had all those and it all tastes the same. Certain animals may be tougher than others but I don't think that's dependent on species, more on age and possibly sex and time of year.

Your first sentence was correct!

[RadSav]

My taste buds must not work very well. I can't tell the difference in any wild game. Elk, moose, mule deer, blacktail deer, whitetail deer, antelope, bighorn sheep- I've had all those and it all tastes the same. Certain animals may be tougher than others but I don't think that's dependent on species, more on age and possibly sex and time of year.

Your first sentence was correct!

Or your butcher keeps the good stuff for himself and gives you beef or goat in return.

[earlmarne]

1 pheasant, 2 bunnies, 3 squirrel, 4 elk, 5 deer

[bobcat]

My taste buds must not work very well. I can't tell the difference in any wild game. Elk, moose, mule deer, blacktail deer, whitetail deer, antelope, bighorn sheep- I've had all those and it all tastes the same. Certain animals may be tougher than others but I don't think that's dependent on species, more on age and possibly sex and time of year.

Your first sentence was correct!

Or your butcher keeps the good stuff for himself and gives you beef or goat in return.

I can't remember the last time I paid a butcher but it's probably been about 25 years ago. So I can't blame it on anyone but myself. I don't see it as a bad thing anyway, I love all of it. But I do know my family is the same way. We have elk, mule deer, blacktail deer, and antelope in the freezer right now and if my wife cooks up some steaks for dinner I often ask what kind of steaks we're eating. She usually doesn't even know because all she looks for is a package that says "steak." And I sure can't tell by the taste what it is, and either can she or the kids. So I will sometimes look in the garbage and find the freezer paper so I know what I'm eating, just because I'm curious. But like I said it's all the same. Now if it's beef we can tell that, my kids always complain if we have beef steaks, as they prefer wild game. 

[WapitiTalk1]

Phantom has 6 lol

Perhaps too many cold beverages last night...obviously affected my ability to count from one to five

OK, revised top five offered:
 
Elk, Moose, Buffler, WT deer, Caribou (let's see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.... yep, got it right this time).  I actually like about any big game critter if prepared right but not a fan of bear.  Perhaps I need to sample it again. 

[TommyH]

  I had some bear awhile back, Buddie handed me a peice of meat off the BBQ and didn't tell me what it was. It was very good !

[Watimberghost]

1. Elk
2. Moose
3. Bison
4. Mule Deer (never had WT)
5. Berry Bear

[Bullkllr]

My taste buds must not work very well. I can't tell the difference in any wild game. Elk, moose, mule deer, blacktail deer, whitetail deer, antelope, bighorn sheep- I've had all those and it all tastes the same. Certain animals may be tougher than others but I don't think that's dependent on species, more on age and possibly sex and time of year.

Your first sentence was correct!

Or your butcher keeps the good stuff for himself and gives you beef or goat in return.

I can't remember the last time I paid a butcher but it's probably been about 25 years ago. So I can't blame it on anyone but myself. I don't see it as a bad thing anyway, I love all of it. But I do know my family is the same way. We have elk, mule deer, blacktail deer, and antelope in the freezer right now and if my wife cooks up some steaks for dinner I often ask what kind of steaks we're eating. She usually doesn't even know because all she looks for is a package that says "steak." And I sure can't tell by the taste what it is, and either can she or the kids. So I will sometimes look in the garbage and find the freezer paper so I know what I'm eating, just because I'm curious. But like I said it's all the same. Now of it's beef we can tell that, my kids always complain if we have beef steaks, as they prefer wild game. 

I agree. Similar cuts from deer and elk (what we get on a regular basis) taste pretty much alike to me. Biggest difference is size of the steaks.

Other than that, grouse and pheasant have to be somewhere in my top 5.

[Humptulips]

1. cougar
2. Moose, only slightly better then elk or deer
3.& 4, Toss up on Elk and BT. I'm kinda with Bobcat. I cannot tell the difference except by size of the cut.
5. Bison, Have to say I was not impressed. It was OK but everybody told me how great it was and ho hum.

Bear and beaver, I have eaten them but I really have a mental block. I couldn't enjoy it no matter how it tasted.

[Magnum_Willys]

My taste buds must not work very well. I can't tell the difference in any wild game. Elk, moose, mule deer, blacktail deer, whitetail deer, antelope, bighorn sheep- I've had all those and it all tastes the same. Certain animals may be tougher than others but I don't think that's dependent on species, more on age and possibly sex and time of year.

Get a western washington blacktail in november and you will tell........ and not for the better.....

[elk247]

Why dont you guys start saying your favorite ways to prepare your favorite wild game?

Like elk burgers with artichoke and mushrooms ground up in to burgers is my specialty.

This is a good point. Chances are if you didn't care for something you tried it either wasn't cared for in the field properly, eating the best feed, or prepared properly. Recipe's deserve a different thread altogether.

[muleyslayer]

1.elk
2.WT deer
3.moose
4.mule deer
5.bear

[RadSav]

Why dont you guys start saying your favorite ways to prepare your favorite wild game?

WA =
1 - Mule Deer - Rubbed down with kosher salt and pepper.  Nothing fancy.  Don't want to cover up natures perfection.  Grilled on the Weber.

2 - Bear - Sliced 1/4" thick.  Marinade in EVO, kosher salt, white pepper, sugar, corn starch and soy sauce for an hour.  Pan fry in hot peanut oil.  Eat plain, with stir fry, or as stroganoff.  Most never makes it to the table...lots of sampling/steeling going on with this stuff!!!

3 - Whitetail - God made whitetail so we could know what chicken fried heaven tastes like!

4 - Black Tail - Johnny's seasoned flower, dredge then fry in peanut oil.  Make gravy with drippings and left over flower.  Serve on top of home made butter mashed taters.

5 - Rocky Mtn. Elk - 2" thick steaks.  Kosher salt and pepper seasoned rather heavy.  Let sit for an hour.  Wrap in half cooked applewood smoked bacon.  Grill indirect/medium heat to internal temp of 120 degrees.  Wrap in foil and let balance for five minutes.  Top with gorgonzola butter.  Serve with steamed asparagus and herb buttered little reds.

Any lesser cuts of meat from any of the above, that doesn't go into burger or stir fry strips, gets cooked as roasts - London Broil style.  Once sliced and presented on a plate, grind a light scattering of white sea salt to taste.  Roasts are always done on the weber, indirect, 350 degrees, internal temp of 120 for deer and elk, 140 for western bear - 160 for eastside bear.

[passing-thru]

1. Cougar
2. Moose
3. Elk ( very close third)
4. Antelope
5. Blacktail

I dont know if it was cook, processor, or cut, but i had some Big Horn Sheep once and found it almost unedible. 

[huntnnw]

easily Buffalo number 1
number 2 is moose if its a good one they tend to be hit or miss
Sept farm whitetails
elk
bear