Favorite Game Meat (Big Game)

What's your favorite big game meat to eat?

  • Antelope

    Votes: 27 18.1%
  • Bear

    Votes: 1 0.7%
  • Blacktail Deer

    Votes: 4 2.7%
  • Caribou

    Votes: 4 2.7%
  • Elk

    Votes: 54 36.2%
  • Moose

    Votes: 20 13.4%
  • Mountain Goat

    Votes: 3 2.0%
  • Mule Deer

    Votes: 6 4.0%
  • Sheep

    Votes: 14 9.4%
  • Whitetail Deer

    Votes: 16 10.7%

  • Total voters
    149

wyodan

WKR
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
729
Of all that I've tried, the early season high country Mule Deer can't be beat. There are a few on the list that I have not yet tried, but I am trying to remedy that.
 
Joined
Sep 22, 2013
Messages
6,389
Musk ox for roasts. Bison for steak and burger. Dall Sheep for steak and roast. Mt goat
For jalenpo hot dogs, moose for burger. The rest is just burger.

What does muskox taste like? The term "musk" would generally suggest less than ideal table fare. Thinking about an archery hunt this summer. Not something you can buy and try.
 
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
7,391
Location
Chugiak, Alaska
I’ve had the opportunity to taste quite a bit of the game that folks have listed here but there are a couple that I haven’t tried, and now this post has really got me thanking about what I’ve been missing. I’ve never tried antelope or axis deer and I’m thinking I might have to try and do something about that. I’ve only had muskox on one occasion and it was very good as well, but still not as good as mountain goat, IMO.


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BRWNBR

WKR
Joined
Feb 11, 2015
Messages
740
I’ve had some goats that were awful. Moose that were horrid. Caribou you couldn’t chew. Bear that tasted like old tuna,
Deer that you could smell from Outside the house! I suppose there’s a chance for everything to suck sometimes. The musk ox I had I believe was from March and the roasts just melted in your mouth!
 

JP100

WKR
Joined
Dec 20, 2013
Messages
1,227
Location
South Island New Zealand
Of North American Game Ive eaten:

Mt Goat would be number 1 I think. Very similar to lamb and mutton that we eat alot of here.
Caribou and Elk would be second
Moose well down the list.

Of the game here
Fallow deer is by far the best
then Wapiti(elkXred) only eaten one but was very good
Red Deer
then Tahr
then Chamois in last
 
Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Messages
3,996
Location
Alaska
Mountain goat would be about #10 on my list... Sheep being #1, then sitka blacktail and musk ox. I love Bison as well, hell I guess I love it all but the mountain goats I've taken we just turned into burger, it's fine and we enjoy it but not our favorite by any means.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
1,748
Location
Western Montana
These are my favorites:
1. Pronghorn antelope
2. elk
3. bison (Might be higher on the list but getting one is very hard as tags are tough to get.)
4. mule deer (before the rut - on bucks)
5. black bear
 

swampokie

WKR
Joined
Jul 8, 2017
Messages
1,732
Location
oklahoma
I think this poll may be showing a little western bias. There is no way that whitetail is 6th or 7th on this list. craziness
 
Joined
Dec 9, 2015
Messages
32
Location
Juneau, Alaska
There are a few I haven't tried, but also a LOT of these listed and others. Here's my list:

1. Dall's Sheep (always the best, more-even-so in the field)
2. Blacktail Deer (Sitka Blacktail - Alpine/Aug/Sept)
3. Mountain Goat (Alpine/Pre-rut Aug/Sept)
4. Caribou (Aug/Sept)
5. Moose (Excellent when well taken care of. October-sometimes brings rut flavor)
6. Sitka Blacktail Deer (Nov/Dec/rut-decent meat, but alpine is waaaay better)
7. Elk (limited exposure, but pretty decent)

Mule Deer (not sure)
Antelope (not sure)
Whitetail Deer (not sure)

Edible
Mountain Goat (Oct/Nov/rut - not so good-sausage, brats, etc. is the best way)
Black Bear (Spring-OK in summer sausage, etc., fall-not so much)


Bottom of the list
Brown Bear (Spring-tried fresh back straps out of 2 different bigger boars [during separate years] - Wow, No way! Smelled like cooking nasty, rotten garbage. Tried to eat-not a chance!)
 
Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Messages
3,996
Location
Alaska
I think this poll may be showing a little western bias. There is no way that whitetail is 6th or 7th on this list. craziness

I grew up eating whitetail and I really enjoy it, that said, it's not in my top 5 when it comes to game meat these days.
 
OP
F

frankrb3

WKR
Joined
May 10, 2016
Messages
529
Location
SW Montana
Well you left bison off so I can't vote.

Sorry about that. Was limited to 10 choices and decided to go with the big game categories we have here on Rokslide. Couple other folks have mentioned other species not listed as well. I think Bison would be up to (2), Dall Sheep (3), Musk Ox (1). I'm probably missing a few more.
 
OP
F

frankrb3

WKR
Joined
May 10, 2016
Messages
529
Location
SW Montana
Bottom of the list
Brown Bear (Spring-tried fresh back straps out of 2 different bigger boars [during separate years] - Wow, No way! Smelled like cooking nasty, rotten garbage. Tried to eat-not a chance!)

Have you tried Black Bear? If so, do you consider it edible compared to the brown bear? I have yet to try Black Bear but hunt them spring and fall and will be eating the meat if I get one. Thanks.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
1,748
Location
Western Montana
Have you tried Black Bear? If so, do you consider it edible compared to the brown bear? I have yet to try Black Bear but hunt them spring and fall and will be eating the meat if I get one. Thanks.

Love black bear meat and cannot wait to try and get one this spring! Steaks, roast's, and sausage are all great.
 
Joined
Sep 22, 2013
Messages
6,389
In AK the only wanton waste requirement in the regs applying to brown bears is for removal of the hide w/ claws and skull. The meat is deemed exempt and largely considered inedible. The only exception to the aforementioned regulation is sustenance killing of browns.
 

EastMT

WKR
Joined
Dec 19, 2016
Messages
2,872
Location
Eastern Montana
We had brown bear loin steaks last spring on the grill, I thought it was pretty good. Not as good as fall blackies high in the berries, but def edible. I haven't tried one on a salmon stream, and I don't want to, very bad from what I hear.


"If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
 

JPHuntingAUS

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 5, 2014
Messages
256
I find it really hard to beat red deer.

The best big game meat I've tried is chital (axis) but haven't had them for years. Of the readily available I'll always take a red, either stag in velvet or a yearling hind.
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