Advice: Love hunting; don't like the meat

[HighUintas]

Posting under a new account because I'm almost embarrassed to ask this question. I love everything about hunting: the challenge, the solitude, getting out into the woods, the sport of it, I hate hiking just for hiking's sake....but give me the same hike with a tag in my pocket and a purpose and I love it....BUT, I don't like the game meat at all. Call me spoiled. I've taken a few elk: a bull and a cow. I enjoyed the steaks of the cow and some sausage with breakfast, but that was about it. My bull was older so even the steak wasn't great (to my taste). For both of those, I ate less than 10% and gave the other 90% to friends and to people online (was lucky that I found someone in my area that had a son with a medical condition where he couldn't eat much fat...so I was able to give them a bunch). I found a lot of joy gifting so much to that kid and his family. Is this all weird? Is not liking the meat enough of a reason to hang it all up? Is it legal to just give/gift the unprocessed quarters to other people? (I'm in Utah). I've heard that you have to keep the tag with the meat...so how would that work if I gifted different quarters to different people? With my two elk, I paid for it to be processed and then just gave most of it away...so I'm thinking of this time giving the quarters away so I don't have to pay for processing. Here is another thought: would it be weird to post in my local hunting facebook group: "help me pack an elk out, and take home whatever you pack...." and to have a list of people I can text when I've got an elk down to come help, with the promise they can keep whatever they pack out? I'm just not sure if something like that is unethical or legal or if I'd have any takers.

I'm in Utah as well. I love the meat and enjoy packing it out. Keep hunting if you love it. Then call me and I'll help pack it out and whatever you don't want to give to family, I'll take it off your hands pre -processing so you don't have incur the cost.

There's nothing wrong at all with what you do. I had a couple uncles growing up that did the same thing. They and their wives and family didn't care for the meat so they gave it away but they still hunted every year because they loved it.

It is definitely legal to donate your meat to people. It is only illegal to leave a bunch of meat in the hills because you don't want it.

Hunting and wasting is one thing, but hunting and providing to others is another.

 

[Ucsdryder]

If you don’t like the meat you’re doing it wrong. Could be any step from the field to the table.

 

[North of 60]

This above^^^^ may be it.

First question is it cooled and processed correctly? If it is cooled quickly and processed correctly and you still don't care for it, like others have said, feel good about donating it if legal in your state. There are folks who will be grateful to have it.

And for me, I'd take elk anytime, any day, over beef, pork or chicken

 

[elsb0048]

You able to share what about the meat was unpleasant? Is it flavor? Texture? Moisture?

As others have noted there is a lot of technique to butchering and cooking that can make a big impact to taste.

For myself personally I don't think I would trust a processor at all. I've talked with a couple buddies that had critters commercially processed and what they got back would drive me nuts. Cuts not labelled, fat & silverskin not trimmed off, not necessarily getting your own meat back.

If you're interested in giving it a thorough try check out Hank Shaw's instructions for meat care in "Buck Buck Moose". I grew up wit a fairly specific meat processing tradition and when I read Hank's book as an adult it was like he had written it down for me. Picked up some more developed cook techniques from him too as far as marinades and braises.

 

[Nine Banger]

 

[199p]

Bro i give away more than i eat myself, no shame at all and its good to see it not just getting freezer burnt.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Texas has a Hunters for the Hungry program and cooperating processors charge a reduced processing fee and I think they just grind everything and send it to the program for donation. I've never used it but wanna say it was $50 for the whole animal.
Personally I'd rather eat Ribeye beef or pork ribs but I really enjoy finding different methods of cooking game and we eat an absolute ton of it. We do a lot of "fajitas" (really just sliced meat eaten in a taco) because it's just super easy to cook and always turns out great. I really dig a Mississippi pot roast as well. Hogs make fantastic carne asada and enchiladas.

 

[Chase0109]

OP-not wanting to eat the meat is not weird at all, and certainly no reason to give up something that you love doing!

I’m in the same boat. I love hunting, it’s my biggest passion. But I do not enjoy eating game meat very much. I’d much rather eat beef steak over elk steak. I shoot a lot of pheasants every year. I process them and give them all away to friends and family. Same with turkeys. Last year I gave away an entire cow elk to my hunting partner. I intend to give him my entire bull if I get one in New Mexico this year.

I love the hunting, the butchering/quartering, and packing out. I just hate the processing, and not a big fan of the cooking/eating it.

If you found joy in giving a bunch of meat to a family who greatly benefited from the lean wild game, I would call them again. Offer them an elk if you get it. Could be a win-win for both you and them.
I found a lot of joy in meeting the people who would be eating my game meat in Africa. It was really cool to see young school children eating part of the elephant I killed, and knowing that this meat was going be their biggest Protein meal of the entire week.

Is it ethical to give away meat, I think so 100%. Legality you’ll have to check with each individual state. But I don’t think they’ll be any issues with gifting it to someone else.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

OP- you should take up photography. You will use all of the skills you use hunting to get up close to animals. Actually, you usually need to get even closer for a photo than a rifle shot. It can be much more difficult to get a good photo of an animal than to shoot it. The rush is still there, and you don't need to worry about drawing tags. You can still go shoot at the range or in the woods all you want too. No down side. Give it a try.

Not gonna lie, I've thought about doing this on years I can't get a tag in certain areas just for the thrill of the hunt.

 

[Wyohunth]

I live in Wyoming and get extra cow tags each year for the sole purpose of giving meat to non hunting/less fortunate meat eaters. Keep on keeping on!

 

[waspocrew]

I live in Wyoming and get extra cow tags each year for the sole purpose of giving meat to non hunting/less fortunate meat eaters. Keep on keeping on!

I’ll be doing to same this year most likely. Usually have lots of cows running around our family ranch in late season.

 

[Bugger]

What’s wrong with the meat that makes it unpalatable?
A lot of hunters could shoot a cow and end up with meat they’d consider “gamey”.

 

[roadrunner]

Paying for anything with game meat will be illegal, even if it’s payment for helping you pack it out. Of course there’s nothing wrong with a friend that helps you and you donating meat to him. It’s the difference between placing an ad offering dinner in exchange for sex, verses swiping on a hookup sight for a date who wants to go out for dinner.

Prostitution is illegal and "paying" someone with meat is bartering.

 

[Jethro]

I’m not a huge fan of elk steaks. So I cut and prepare very few. Focus on what you like. I’m assuming OP eats burger. Our top 3 are burger, chip steak, and breakfast sausage

 

[pacoalcracker]

Prostitution is only illegal because there is no govt cut.....remember when gambling was illegal? No shortage of people needing free food. Homeless people are everywhere.

 

[def90]

Prostitution is illegal and "paying" someone with meat is bartering.

No, regulations pretty much everywhere do not allow you to sell or barter/trade wild game.

 

[OKHunter84]

I think it has a lot to do with how it is prepared. Starting with field dressing immediately, getting the hide off of it, not busting the bladder or guts, get all the butthole out and getting the meat cooled down. I let them age in an ice chest and drain the blood. I like to add 10% beef fat, not pork, to my grind. A good backstrap steak cooked in a cast iron and hot butter is hard to beat.

My wife had never eaten game meat until she got with me. She loves it now. Elk is some of her favorite and I harvested a mule deer that had been eating acorns from shinnery oaks in the sand hills, he had a thick layer of fat, she loved that too. She isn't as crazy about whitetail.

This isn't uncommon though. My cousin is one of the biggest hunters I know and he makes jerky with most of his meat.

 

[Boarmaster]

I know a few hunters that don't eat the game meat they kill. They find others to give it to.
I wont assume the reason you don’t like it has anything to do with how you’re handling it after the kill. But that is always a possibility. Summer Sausage and snack sticks are a good use and people that don't care for just plain game meat like steaks will readily enjoy it. Ground game meat used in pasta sauce and chili is another way to get started developing a taste for game meat.
Even wild hog can be made palatable in summer sausage and sticks. Snack sticks are great to have along during the day. I sometimes eat a few for lunch with some cheese and chips. I never had anyone turn down an offering of a second meat stick. People can just eat them without having know how to cook wild game.

 

[GunsAreFun]

I don’t really like the taste of whole muscle deer, but I do really like my homemade deer jerky and some cold smoked, dry aged sausage that I get made locally. My kids also love the summer sausage.

90% of my deer goes to those things. I give a few steaks to friends, and then the trimmings and bones go to people that give them to dogs. I literally don’t throw anything in the trash when butchering a quartered animal.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Totally opposite,I find it hard to fish or hunt for things I don’t like to eat.