Game smell in hung venison

[elkboy]

Hello all- I just hung my 2.5 year old whitetail,  skinned, for six days,  in a garage which ranged between 34 and 40 degrees. As my buddy and I were butchering him today, we noticed a bit of a gamy smell in the hindquarter meat. We cooked up little samples, and it tasted and smelled fine. Should I be concerned?

Thanks all.

[Smokepole]

I've butchered a couple like that.  Freeze it and forget it for a week or two, and then it'll smell and taste great.  Once you get a little ripe venison in your olfactories, seems like it just snowballs from there.  But I've never been sick from eating a well aged deer.

[MADMAX]

Wipe it down with apple cider vinegar

[NRA4LIFE]

No. I grew up hunting in Northern WI.  Our deer would hang in varying temps for a week or better.  Thawed out in the basement to butcher.

[brew]

IMHO a lot of the "gamey" smell of hung meat is any blood that still be on the meat/body cavity...not the meat itself...as someone mentioned I wipe it with vinegar.  If you ate some and it didn't give you the "Hershey squirts" cut it/freeze it and enjoy

[elkboy]

Thanks, all. I really appreciate it.

I think I was just overthinking it. We just pulled a roast off the grill, and the flavor, moisture, and tenderness were excellent.  I guess we'll know for sure after a day or so!

[Smokepole]

One way to check for freshness is to feed some to your dog.  If the dog barks in the middle of the night, or leaves a trail across your carpet, you know the venison's bad.   

[elkboy]

One way to check for freshness is to feed some to your dog.  If the dog barks in the middle of the night, or leaves a trail across your carpet, you know the venison's bad.   

Lol. We have two dogs. Both got some treats. I guess we believe in replicating the experiment around here. 

[Smokepole]

 

[elkboy]

Well, nobody's sick.  Not the dogs, not us, not my friend who helped butcher the deer and stayed for dinner (where a grilled roast was the main course).  I'm still surprised.  I've hung and processed a lot of deer, and this is the first where there was a gamey scent in the haunches/hams. 

Thanks for the input, everybody.  I'm hoping Smokepole is right- after a week or more in the freezer, that some of that scent goes away.  Otherwise, it's going to be a lot of marinades and/or cooking in smoke!   

[pianoman9701]

Thanks, all. I really appreciate it.

I think I was just overthinking it. We just pulled a roast off the grill, and the flavor, moisture, and tenderness were excellent.  I guess we'll know for sure after a day or so!

Mark, if you ship it to me for analysis, I'll make sure it gets a thorough testing. You can count on me! 
 

[elkboy]

Thanks, all. I really appreciate it.

I think I was just overthinking it. We just pulled a roast off the grill, and the flavor, moisture, and tenderness were excellent.  I guess we'll know for sure after a day or so!

Mark, if you ship it to me for analysis, I'll make sure it gets a thorough testing. You can count on me! 

John, I might just take you up on that.  I know you have keen senses for fine foods; I'd be curious to see what your reaction to it is.  Could drop off a package when we come through Ptld/Vancouver just after Christmas!

[pianoman9701]

Thanks, all. I really appreciate it.

I think I was just overthinking it. We just pulled a roast off the grill, and the flavor, moisture, and tenderness were excellent.  I guess we'll know for sure after a day or so!

Mark, if you ship it to me for analysis, I'll make sure it gets a thorough testing. You can count on me! 

John, I might just take you up on that.  I know you have keen senses for fine foods; I'd be curious to see what your reaction to it is.  Could drop off a package when we come through Ptld/Vancouver just after Christmas!

 

[Smokepole]

I'd be curious how it smells to ya in a couple weeks.  Sounds like it tasted great!   

[206]

I miss the smell of processing deer and elk.