Deer and/or Elk Tongue

[pianoman9701]

Have any of you guys ever cooked and/or eaten elk or deer tongue? How was it compared to cow? How did you prepare it?

[brianmtsinc]

Good question!  I just had my first beef tongue the other day and it was actually pretty good! 
Maybe it was the Chile Colorado sauce it was in but I liked it   

[Special T]

I just skinned and seasoned and fried in oil on the iron skillet.  I cut them small and equated it to eating fried chicken gizzard... I have had them pressure cooked but thought it wasn't worth the effort. 

[NaturalSelection]

Good tacos 

[washelkhunter]

tried elk once, it was god awful. had a heavy urea chemical taste.  bleech

[RadSav]

I really like beef tongue so I thought I would try it once.  After a whole lot of cursing and cutting I finally pulled a tongue from my 7X7 bull.  It was about enough meat to make a single taco.  I hate to waste any meat on an animal, but that was surely not worth the effort.

[pianoman9701]

I really like beef tongue so I thought I would try it once.  After a whole lot of cursing and cutting I finally pulled a tongue from my 7X7 bull.  It was about enough meat to make a single taco.  I hate to waste any meat on an animal, but that was surely not worth the effort.

I think I'll try it on my next kill. I know for the uric flavor WAelkhunter spoke of, when I cook octopus, it has the same problem unless you neutralize the acid with a milk bath for a couple of hours. Thanks for the feedback all.

[RadSav]

I think I'll try it on my next kill. I know for the uric flavor WAelkhunter spoke of, when I cook octopus, it has the same problem unless you neutralize the acid with a milk bath for a couple of hours. Thanks for the feedback all.

Mmmm Yummy Octopus!  Now that is worth the effort   Love those.

[Humptulips]

I really like beef tongue so I thought I would try it once.  After a whole lot of cursing and cutting I finally pulled a tongue from my 7X7 bull.  It was about enough meat to make a single taco.  I hate to waste any meat on an animal, but that was surely not worth the effort.

I can't understand this. There is really a lot of meat on an elk tongue. Perhaps you did not get it all. Skin the lower jaw and take everything between the lower jaw bones.

Preparing tongue starts right after the kill same as the rest of the meat. Don't leave the tongue in the animal and haul it around for a day or two or you will have the same taste as a gut shot deer. Get the tongue out the first day and wash it off good. I then put it in some salt water and let it soak over night.
I like tongue sandwiches so my prep is simple. I boil it for several hours, peel it and slice it. Tongue is tough so cook it a long time to help tenderize it. A little horseradish and mustard makes a nice sandwich. Alternatively I have ground it and made a sandwich spread. Nothing fancy, just mayo, pickles, horseradish and a little salt and pepper.
My mom always boiled it in water with cloves but I prefer it without the cloves.
I find deer tongue to be too small for slicing so I usually mix it with some other meat and boil it, grind it and make sandwich spread.

[RadSav]

I got it all just like we do with beef cows.  But after I skinned it there was not much at all left.  That bull was the size of a horse with the tongue of a blacktail deer I guess.  Perhaps that's why he was retarded enough to let me stick him with an arrow at 12 yards   I do make some big ass tacos though

[mrmoskillz]

There was a show on last night called dead meat and they made tongue.  It was corned/pickeled.  They put it in a saltwater brine for a month then boiled it.  Then they made reubans out of it it looked really good but the guy did two deer tongues and only had enough for two small tacos.  It looked just like corned beef, I'll have to try it.

[pianoman9701]

I like the pressure cooker suggestion. I use one all the time fr corned beef. Interesting ideas gang, thanks.

[sirmissalot]

My brother in law who's a member on here swears elk tongue is delicious. He is constantly eating raw fish when we are out on the boat too... 

I like trying new things and don't like to waste but the tongue just seems weird to me

[KopperBuck]

It's in my top 3 cuts from wild game. Loin and heart are in there as well.

It is by far one of the most tender cuts, and delicious. For those that have bad experiences either you weren't preparing it right, or cooking it right. I have on numerous occasions, and I do mean numerous, slipped folks the "tongue" and they said it was some of the best meat they've had.

The way I was raised eating it will usually turn most people off to it, but it takes nothing away from the taste. We usually throw it in the crockpot all day and low or medium, enough to simmer. Outer layer and all. My dad does it plain, I like to toss some onions and other goodies to season a bit. After an all day simmer throw that bad boy on the plate and skin quickly. Slice and eat hot.

Using the same method, if I have several in a season, which I usually do since no one takes it, I'll slice real thin and use for sandwiches.

You can also fry it as mentioned before, as I think it's what you'll typically find at your local taco wagon. If you don't trust those, try a local mexican joint.

Another popular method is to pickle it, also very good.

If properly skinned an elk tongue is more than enough for a meal, and a deer tongue will get you plenty with side dishes.

I'm not sure where the uric acid is coming in unless it had to do with the cleaning process. The protective coating on the tongue should almost ensure no problems, let alone there being one in the first place.

Easiest way to pull the tongue out - come from the bottom of the jaw. Done right you should only need 3-4 cuts. One along each side of the jaw. Pull the tongue through the bottom and whack. Make sure before you cook that you trim up the base, as well as some of the under carriage so it's a little neater and clean.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I have always been one to try somthing first before i knock it! So the next deer or elk the tounge gets cooked! Will have a couple beers before tasting!   

[dvolmer]

I give you all credit for trying but all I can say is WOW!!  Out of all the parts of the deer and elk I have killed the last thing next to the weiner and bladder would have to be the tongue.  I seem to find enough steaks, roasts, and burger to keep me and my family going that the tongue is the last thing on my mind.  but to each their own so have at it.  If any of you live in  or around the Tri-City area let me know and you can come and carve out the tongue of any and all the animals we get.  Happy hunting! and try to remember all of the times that animal has licked his testicles and all of the female parts of all the animals it could find.  Hee hee!

[johnnyaustin44]

Think I may need to try this out here soon. sounds good actually.

[pianoman9701]

I will definitely be trying it this year. I'd never even thought of it before.

[Humptulips]

I give you all credit for trying but all I can say is WOW!!  Out of all the parts of the deer and elk I have killed the last thing next to the weiner and bladder would have to be the tongue.  I seem to find enough steaks, roasts, and burger to keep me and my family going that the tongue is the last thing on my mind.  but to each their own so have at it.  If any of you live in  or around the Tri-City area let me know and you can come and carve out the tongue of any and all the animals we get.  Happy hunting! and try to remember all of the times that animal has licked his testicles and all of the female parts of all the animals it could find.  Hee hee!

It's all in your head and there is no getting past it if your brain tells you it shouldn't be edible.
My brother in law tried tongue but can't get past the tongue thing even though he said it wasn't bad. My Dad won't even try cougar and bear meat leaves me cold. I had a bad experience with some stinky bear meat once.
It's good but you have to have an open mind if that's possible.

[dreamunelk]

Interesting, there was a time when elk where killed for their whistlers and tongue.  Everything else was left for the scavengers.  I have a text book that shows a bunch of mature bulls shot and left after they were removed.

[Axle]

I've taken it and cut it up and put it in the hamburger pile along with the heart. Once ground up - you will never know it is in there.

[meathacker]

My brother in law who's a member on here swears elk tongue is delicious. He is constantly eating raw fish when we are out on the boat too... 

I like trying new things and don't like to waste but the tongue just seems weird to me

It is Great!  it the first thing i eat from my elk every year (i dont mess with the deer its to small).  I boil it for about 45 min.  add some seasoning to the water and a few carrots, celery.  peal off the skin and slice it up.  I like to dip it into some of that beaver Sweet and spicy mustard.  Yum.  If  you don't want them hit me up ill take it off your hands.  As for the raw fish on the boat... It doesn't get any fresher!

[meathacker]

Had elk tongue a couple nights ago thanks to Sirmissalot.  Great Flavor and very tender!  You guys that just throw it away are missing out.  Here is a pic of it when it was done cooking and one after it was peeled. 

[pianoman9701]

I'm jealous, Meathacker! I didn't get the chance to try any this year. Thanks so much for the follow-up on the thread. I will "hold my tongues" in the future. 

[RadSav]

Got a good amount of meat on that one   Looking at that I might have to try it again.  Makes my mouth water for some tacos

[bobcat]

Tongue is in he same class as Rocky Mountain Oysters as far as I'm concerned.

Not interested in trying either one.

[BLUEBULLS]

I've had it, it was good until I knew what it was. It's all in your head and everything above my taste buds says don't eat it

[KopperBuck]

Tongue is in he same class as Rocky Mountain Oysters as far as I'm concerned.

Not interested in trying either one.

Now you're missing out. I love myself a well cooked nut

Seriously though, good stuff. If you're ever in Rock Creek first part of August - www.testyfesty.com
It's a hoot. You can stay in Missoula and the jump on testy fest school bus!

[pianoman9701]

Yep, testicles of all kinds are pretty darned good - steers, sheep, turkeys. I haven't tried deer and elk nuts, though. Might be next along with the tongue...IF I EVER FREAKIN TAG OUT!!!!!!

[RadSav]

Tongue is in he same class as Rocky Mountain Oysters as far as I'm concerned.

Not interested in trying either one.

Now you're missing out. I love myself a well cooked nut


Seriously though, good stuff. If you're ever in Rock Creek first part of August - www.testyfesty.com
It's a hoot. You can stay in Missoula and the jump on testy fest school bus!

 

Brains and Testies make me barf!  Tried brains only once.  Nuts twice only because a friend insisted I must have gotten a bad bag-o-nuts the first time.  Nope just as bad the second time around.

[Hawgdawg]

Look at all the thousands of buffalo that were killed just for their tongues. I pickle mine and love them. But me and the miss are just good ole country folks!