Tips to Prepare the Venison after the Hunt

After a long day of hunting, it is now time to take themanner and it is no wonder that some of the people
deer or the hunting object back to the camp or home,who eat the meat from these deer decide that they
and make a good dish of them. But the meat or thedo not like it. Some people object to the "wild" or
venison, also need to be handled in proper manner."gamey" taste of venison and the meat of other wild
Below are some tips which you can use for theanimals. This taste is largely imaginative. Each has its
Venice.own distinctive odor, and odor plays a large part in
Venison, the flesh of the deer family, is one of the bestdetermining taste.
of meat foods. It is nourishing, easily assimilated andWhen the olfactory nerves are affected by a severe
flavorful. Many people, for different reasons, willhead cold, the food that we eat is almost tasteless,
disagree with me when I make this statement, butand a blindfolded man, holding his nose, cannot
most of those who have eaten the meat of deerdistinguish the difference in taste between a slice of
which has been properly killed and taken care of, willonion and a slice of apple. We have learned to
say the same thing.associate certain odors with certain foods and when
Some people are prejudiced and would not eatwe encounter these odors they give us an appetite.
venison under any circumstances. Others haveFood odors with which we are accustomed are, as a
sampled this meat on an experimental basis, and, beingrule, pleasing; and when we eat the food, the entire
prepared to dislike it, have disliked it. Still others havedigestive system is prepared to accept it, and we like
eaten venison that as not fit to eat and have thereforeit. On the other hand, unfamiliar odors are often
condemned all venison because of the sample. It is aoffensive so we dislike the food, and often the
fact that a large portion of the deer which are killedstomach will refuse to accept and retain it. The French
are not fit to eat by the time that they reach the table.chef, with his many sauces, is able to overpower or
There is no real need for this and it is too bad that sodisguise these odors so as to make almost any food
much good meat should go to waste each year forpalatable.
the lack of proper care. Venison is easily spoiled byVenison, when properly cared for, needs none of
improper care and it is a mystery to me how so muchthese disguising sauces. The odor is no stronger than
of it remains edible as long as it does after thethat of the domestic animals. It is different, with the
treatment that most of it receives.same difference which exists among beef, pork and
Most of our domestic meat animals are killed andmutton, but anyone who approaches a good venison
handled under the eyes of Government inspectors insteak with an open mind is almost certain to enjoy it. It
as sanitary a manner as possible. Every effort isis a superior food and if the deer could be
made to see that the meat reaches the consumer indomesticated and treated as other domesticated
an edible condition. If a beef animal were shot throughanimals, we would have an even better and tastier
the body, perhaps several times; the viscera removedproduct.
in an indifferent manner, perhaps in several pieces;Venison is easily spoiled by improper care; some
blood and other foreign matter left in the body cavity;people object to the "wild" or "gamey" taste of venison
the carcass dragged over the ground to anand the meat of other wild animals. This taste is largely
un-refrigerated car and shipped, with the skin on, forimaginative. Each has its own distinctive odor, and odor
two hundred miles, the meat would not pass inspectionplays a large part in determining taste. When preparing
and would be condemned as unfit for humanthe venison, you can make some experiment for a
consumption. Many of our deer are handled in thisbetter taste and odor.