Tastiest N. American Big Game

[willis5]

what is your favorite big game meat?

[Yukon Jack]

Above all, I think Dall Sheep is by far and away the best.  Too bad that wasn't included.  Sitka Blacktail deer would be second, I prefer them well above whitetailed deer or mule deer.  At least the Alaska version of the Sitka deer, they have more true fat and less tallow.  Much better tasting.  Moose would be third, tied with Elk.

[Graybeard]

I've certainly not tried them all but white tail deer is at the bottom of what I have tried with moose following real closely behind it. Of the native game I've tried I think elk was best but really Axis deer is even better so it gets my vote.

GB

[New Hampshire]

I went whitetail.  I too have far from eaten the whole list.  Its all relative really, anyways.  Ive found that a number of factors can affect how game tastes.  Did it die after a hard run?  Do you keep bone on your cuts?  My buddy and I decided we were not going to dish out anywheres from $50 to $80 bucks for some guy to rush a butcher job on our deers.  We decided to do it ourselves.  All boneless cuts, as much sinew, silver skin and fat removed as humanly possible.  Results?  Venison that would give even prime beef fillets a run for their money.
Brian M.

[bgjohn]

Antelope or Elk out here near the top of the list. Mule deer near the bottom of the list. I haven't tasted some of the others but that's my vote.
JM

[jhm]

ELK :grin:      Jim

[Rmouleart]

The three most important things not mentioned, how the animal was killed, quick fast death is the best, how it was butchered, were the cuts done right and partially frozen, so the meat don't loose all the blood, in tern is flavor,  how it was prepared, most people don't know how to cook game animals., cook them too well, like shoe leather,  if prepared properly it can be a delight to your taste buds. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

[Dezertyote]

Got to be antelope #1 and elk #2 for me

[azshooter]

You missed the best tasting one of all - Bison.

[Larry Gibson]

"what is your favorite big game meat?"

As the one poster indicates the taste of game meat has to do with numerous varialbles, most how quickly and how well the game animal was dressed out, how the meat was prepared for cutting and wrapping and how well the meat was prepared for cooking.

That being said I would have to rank big horn sheep as the best, in my case Rocky Mountain Bighorn.  Caribou would be second closely followed by moose.  Bison would sit next but I have a hard time calling them "wild game" anymore.  Elk fit in here and all the deer after it (exception being the Stka deer as mentioned, I would put it alongside of caribou).  Next in order I generally consider wild feral hog meat as better than true wild hog but have only sampled a true wild hog once.  Antelope and bear meat bring up the bottom of the list in taste for me.

Larry Gibson

[oso45-70]

I have not eaten all on the list but have had most and of what i have had it has to be elk #1 although i havent had any bad meat that i handled my self. I think most bad meat is messed up by not processing the meat the right way,,,, Just my oponion..........Joe..........

[Glanceblamm]

Agreed with New Hampshire
Very good points. Especially on how quickly the game is taken.
Diet comes next & these IL whitetails are grain fed. Delicious.

Have not tryed most on the list.

[smoky]

Of those I've eaten, I really liked the moose steaks the best.

Smoky

[DeerMeadowFarm]

Moose is probably the best. Beaver (not on the list) might be the best over-all. I had some in a stew/soup form years ago at a game feed and it was great! I've read that the mountain men of yore used to feel the same as well...

[Cabin4]

Black bear from Maine. Because of all the berries and sweet bait sites, this bear meat is the best wild game I have ever had.

[Wynn]

Of the game listed, wild hog is my choice though I have tried most but not all listed. I have to say that properly prepared (most is not) alligator would be my no 1 choice.

[grodon of the north]

Sitka Black-Tail=Mmm Mmm good. Moose (cow or youngish pre-rut bull) is also very good. We et some darn good elk steaks a buddy gave us but I don't know if it was a Bull or cow. Dall sheep, (from another buddy) I remember as having great flavor and being tender too, but it's been awhile.
I would think any animal in hard core rut or post-rut shape would be inferior. Big racks are hard to chew on too.
We hunt mostly for meat around here. Even if it's works out to $20 a pound, a guys gotta feed his family, right.  :wink: The kids seem to thrive on moose burger :grin:

[huntsman]

Wild hog hands down. No meat, except for possibly birds, domestic or wild, comes close to the flavor of slow-grilled wild hog.

[kevin.303]

maple flavoured bacon made from wild hog
caribou strogonoff
venison/pork farmer sausage

and to qoute the old timer from "Jeremiah johnson",

" it don't make no sense why folks down there feeds 'emselves on hog when they could be feeding on elk"

[longwinters]

The only wild game, of the hooved, variety that I ever had that was bad was game not taken care of or cooked correctly.  I am somewhat of a picky eater with flavor and correct seasonings being very important.  But I hear people complain about how bad wild game tastes and then when I see how they take care of their game and prepare it . . . I can see why :eek:

Long

[toecutter]

Haven't et all of em but moose gets my vote!

[Dand]

I've had top notch moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and Kodiak - Sitka black tail - all of it really really good.  Had some good Mt goat stroganoff too. Hard to choose.  I've also had some bum caribou and moose most due to handling problems.  The first caribou I shot when the weather got hot and the plane didn't come for 4 days - didn't have many folks offering to acompany me at dinner that winter. Walrus can be ok but chewy. The little bit of seal meat I had was pretty oily though I used to love seal liver the few times my mom got it when I was a kid. Canadian Lynx though not big game is real good.

Of them all I have to say its a tie between the Dall sheep and a good black tail deer from Kodiak.

[gwindrider1]

I haven't tasted them all either, but so far, I'd vote for Pronghorn, followed closely by Bighorn.  It's all good!!!

[DWARREN123]

Don't see cow on there. :lol:

[Matt in AK]

I've not had it all, but I've  eaten...
- Whitetail Deer
- Mule Deer
- Elk (friend shot this one)
- Moose
- Sitka Blacktail Deer
- Caribou (friend shot this too)
- Wild Boar
- Black Bear

The Blacktail Deer was the best though the Spring Black Bear was a close second.  The boar was great because it had enough fat to make great ribs over the fire...

[encore31]

I like bald eagle the best :-D  :-D  :-D  :-D (just kiding)

[SAWgunner]

I have tried all ofthe above except Grizzly and I think Whitetail is the best.  I really don't care for Caribou and I hate Antelope.


SAW

[scratcherky]

Whitetail

[longwalker]

1 antelope
2 whitetail deer
3 mule deer

past that I have no experience. However I will agree whole heartily, a big factor is the way the animal dies. Quick never knew what HIT'EM death and quickly field dressing and cooling make all the difference. At least for me

[lilabner]

I haven't eaten bear. Of the others, the best I've ever had was wild sheep - steaks off a Stone sheep in northern B.C. From what I've read, the 19th century mountain men preferred bighorn sheep to all other available game. I've shot several pronghorn antelope and never had a bad one. I would rank antelope right at the top for commonly hunted U.S. game. If you are ever fortunate enough to draw a bighorn sheep license and fill it, care for the meat as it could be great. Large bull elk. moose and deer are good eating pre rut but during and after the rut, they are lean and run down. Early hunts usually produce the best meat.