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Title: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: elkboy on November 29, 2022, 05:45:44 PM
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.
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: Smokepole on November 29, 2022, 05:52:03 PM
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.
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: MADMAX on November 29, 2022, 05:54:58 PM
Wipe it down with apple cider vinegar
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: NRA4LIFE on November 29, 2022, 05:56:37 PM
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.
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: brew on November 29, 2022, 06:06:00 PM
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
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: elkboy on November 29, 2022, 07:15:10 PM
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!
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: Smokepole on November 29, 2022, 07:30:12 PM
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.   :chuckle:
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: elkboy on November 29, 2022, 07:43:29 PM
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.   :chuckle:

Lol. We have two dogs. Both got some treats. I guess we believe in replicating the experiment around here.  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: Smokepole on November 29, 2022, 07:44:59 PM
 :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: elkboy on December 01, 2022, 03:55:56 PM
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!   :P
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: pianoman9701 on December 01, 2022, 04:08:14 PM
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!  :tup:
 
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: elkboy on December 01, 2022, 04:26:53 PM
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!  :tup:

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!
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: pianoman9701 on December 01, 2022, 04:31:30 PM
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!  :tup:

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!

 :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: Smokepole on December 01, 2022, 05:15:57 PM
I'd be curious how it smells to ya in a couple weeks.  Sounds like it tasted great!   :tup:
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: 206 on December 01, 2022, 05:29:26 PM
I miss the smell of processing deer and elk. 
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: elkboy on December 06, 2022, 02:32:46 PM
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.

Well, Smokepole's prediction was right on.  One week in the freezer seems to have taken care of that gamy odor.  Smells like good, sweet venison at this point.  I just thawed a package of hindquarter steaks, and cooked up a small sample.  Good flavor, and very tender from the six days of hanging.

Thanks again, everybody who weighed in with some insight!  Don't worry, I'll still submit some to the Pianoman Advanced Laboratory for Game Meat Analysis.   :chuckle:
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: Smokepole on December 07, 2022, 06:53:55 AM
Glad it worked out for ya, Elkboy.   :EAT:
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: trophyhunt on December 07, 2022, 06:58:26 AM
venison....  :puke:  Just not a fan, whitetail is decent but mule and blacktail... yuk
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: nwwanderer on December 07, 2022, 08:20:13 AM
Always taste test, even WT
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: Angry Perch on December 07, 2022, 09:13:19 AM
venison....  :puke:  Just not a fan, whitetail is decent but mule and blacktail... yuk

For real?
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: Karl Blanchard on December 07, 2022, 09:59:51 AM
venison....  :puke:  Just not a fan, whitetail is decent but mule and blacktail... yuk

For real?
  :yeah: I'm getting real judgy about your cooking skills Jerry  :chuckle: :hello:
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: trophyhunt on December 07, 2022, 10:15:02 AM
venison....  :puke:  Just not a fan, whitetail is decent but mule and blacktail... yuk

For real?
  :yeah: I'm getting real judgy about your cooking skills Jerry  :chuckle: :hello:
lol, I’ve had some blacktail back strap in the back country after a 6 mile hike that was good, but that’s what it takes to make blacktail good.  😀
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: fishngamereaper on December 07, 2022, 10:25:56 AM
venison....  :puke:  Just not a fan, whitetail is decent but mule and blacktail... yuk

For real?
  :yeah: I'm getting real judgy about your cooking skills Jerry  :chuckle: :hello:
lol, I’ve had some blacktail back strap in the back country after a 6 mile hike that was good, but that’s what it takes to make blacktail good.  😀

Maybe the state should stop giving you moose tags like there candy and force you back down to eating like the rest of us peasants. 
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: dreamingbig on December 07, 2022, 11:42:31 AM
I think it is 80% in the preparation.  From field all the way to the freezer you need to have a system.

I have eaten mule deer does and whitetail does that taste amazing.  Even better than elk based on my kids reviews.  That said I have had deer that others have killed and it certainly can be not good.  Definitely a spectrum of potential outcomes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: elkboy on December 07, 2022, 11:43:12 AM
I think it is 80% in the preparation.  From field all the way to the freezer you need to have a system.

I have eaten mule deer does and whitetail does that taste amazing.  Even better than elk based on my kids reviews.  That said I have had deer that others have killed and it certainly can be not good.  Definitely a spectrum of potential outcomes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Amen.
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: elkboy on December 07, 2022, 11:48:08 AM
Well, here was the test case, last night... fortunately, the gamey odor had disappeared.  I have had excellent whitetail, mule deer, and blacktail-  a lot depends on how it was shot, how quickly it was field dressed, and how it was handled all along the line.  Some depends on the deer's diet, but IMHO, most depends on shot placement, field care, hanging, and butchering. 
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: Bullkllr on December 07, 2022, 11:57:50 AM
venison....  :puke:  Just not a fan, whitetail is decent but mule and blacktail... yuk

For real?
  :yeah: I'm getting real judgy about your cooking skills Jerry  :chuckle: :hello:
lol, I’ve had some blacktail back strap in the back country after a 6 mile hike that was good, but that’s what it takes to make blacktail good.  😀

Maybe the state should stop giving you moose tags like there candy and force you back down to eating like the rest of us peasants.

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there! :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: pianoman9701 on December 07, 2022, 12:04:20 PM
Well, here was the test case, last night... fortunately, the gamey odor had disappeared.  I have had excellent whitetail, mule deer, and blacktail-  a lot depends on how it was shot, how quickly it was field dressed, and how it was handled all along the line.  Some depends on the deer's diet, but IMHO, most depends on shot placement, field care, hanging, and butchering.

Looks and sounds darn tasty.
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: trophyhunt on December 07, 2022, 12:10:21 PM
venison....  :puke:  Just not a fan, whitetail is decent but mule and blacktail... yuk

For real?
  :yeah: I'm getting real judgy about your cooking skills Jerry  :chuckle: :hello:
lol, I’ve had some blacktail back strap in the back country after a 6 mile hike that was good, but that’s what it takes to make blacktail good.  😀

Maybe the state should stop giving you moose tags like there candy and force you back down to eating like the rest of us peasants.
:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: Karl Blanchard on December 07, 2022, 12:10:53 PM
Only game meat I've eaten better than mule deer is sitka blacktail and the king of meats for me so far is Dall Sheep. Holy smokes that stuff is good!
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: trophyhunt on December 07, 2022, 12:19:02 PM
Only game meat I've eaten better than mule deer is sitka blacktail and the king of meats for me so far is Dall Sheep. Holy smokes that stuff is good!
I'm having the state give me a big horn sheep tag for 2023, I hope that meat is good.  But by far my fav meat is ground up wild meat made into hamb or breakfast sausage!!  Other than that, nothing beats a good rib eye!!   :chuckle:
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: Magnum_Willys on December 07, 2022, 02:39:28 PM
Mississippi Pot Roast Moose  :EAT: :EAT: :EAT:
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: Alchase on December 07, 2022, 07:24:13 PM
Only game meat I've eaten better than mule deer is sitka blacktail and the king of meats for me so far is Dall Sheep. Holy smokes that stuff is good!

I would take Elk, either a BBQed Elk blackstrap, or Elk jerky, etc… over any deer, whitetail, Blacktail, or Muley!

And I like venison a lot. But love me some Elk!

 :drool:
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: NRA4LIFE on December 07, 2022, 08:43:48 PM
I got extra freezer space for any you want get rid of. We live on deer meat (almost, a nice piece of cow is necessary for human existence). Loaded another 120 lbs into the freezer this year,  YUMMMM.
Title: Re: Game smell in hung venison
Post by: Alchase on December 07, 2022, 09:28:55 PM
I got extra freezer space for any you want get rid of. We live on deer meat (almost, a nice piece of cow is necessary for human existence). Loaded another 120 lbs into the freezer this year,  YUMMMM.

Nice!

Honestly my wife would feel the same. When I tell her,
“I saw nothing worth putting on the wall”
she gives me that look and says
“Well can’t eat what you hang on the wall, and it won’t fill the freezer. :dunno:”

I hate when she makes sense   :bash:

She just does not understand what a double droptine mulie or a gnarly non-typical whitetail, means to someone who has always  taken the next available legal buck.

Silly girl  :rolleyes:
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