Antelope cuts?

[Jacob Chapman]

Good morning rokslide. I've never hunted antelope before, tried the steaks once and they were delicious.

Wondering what cuts of meat to get? Im going to have Montana Mobile Meats process the 65+" buck for me tomorrow after I tag out.

Also, do most people use the gutless quarter method n then keep them on ice in a cooler for transport?

Thanks for all your help

 

[Rucker61]

We usually just gut them and toss them in a cooler, then quarter them later. Everything goes into sausage, so I don't know what cuts to recommend.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Antelope can REALLY be hit or miss. Firstly and most important, is to ensure a quick, clean kill on an unexcited animal. Then keep the meat as clean as humanly possible, and get it chilled quickly (but don't let it get wet from the ice either). Those two things will help a ton. Antelope steak, done right and with a good animal, is the best wild game I've ever had. Just remember they are small, and as such I'd go steak/sausage or steak/stew meat, but don't bother with roasts.

 

[ssliger]

Antelope can REALLY be hit or miss. Firstly and most important, is to ensure a quick, clean kill on an unexcited animal. Then keep the meat as clean as humanly possible, and get it chilled quickly (but don't let it get wet from the ice either). Those two things will help a ton. Antelope steak, done right and with a good animal, is the best wild game I've ever had. Just remember they are small, and as such I'd go steak/sausage or steak/stew meat, but don't bother with roasts.

This^^^^^. I never shoot an antelope that has been running around to much.

 

[Hardstalk]

Only cuts I save for steak is tenderloin and back strap. I agree with all of the above. A quick clean kill is the most important flavor enhancer! I've dropped antelope in their tracks and they never saw me coming. Best meat you can ask for. I've also made bad shots and had to retrieve them the following day. When that happens I gag at every bite of the meat. I also suggest keep a cooler with ice water in it. Shoot it, gut it, skin it and get that baby cooled ASAP!

 

[Jacob Chapman]

Ice water???

I thought just ice, and to keep the meat dry once it's cleaned off?

Sorry if that sounds ignorant, i've never quartered anything before so this is a new experience for me

 

[Hardstalk]

I was a bit confused when an old timer told me as well. He swore by dunking them in cold water and chilling it ASAP. Don't leave it to rot, just a quick ice bath to chill it. Then let it dry. I tried it on a doe. Not sure if it was because of the quick kill or quick chill. But it was the tastiest antelope I've had to date.

 

[realunlucky]

I wash all blood and hair off first thing and get it cooled down. I carry a pump weed sprayer and a cooler full of ice

 

[WRO]

The most important thing it's to get the wrapper off. I take a tarp with me and bags. We typically get them in locker within 3 hours from dead, get them cold and aired out then process them the next day. Mine have been excellent eating.

 

[NVCHUKAR]

All the antelope we have ever killed have been excellent eating, makes me cring to think of making sausage out of the whole thing. Like mentioned above quick kill and clean and cool as fast as possible.

 

[squeekieslayer]

Antelope can be the nastiest thing you will ever try... or quite good.

1) shoot them in the dessert/sage of wyoming... no matter what you do they will NEVER be as good as the ones living off alfalfa here in MT.
2) I barely let them quit breathing before they are being skinned, quartered cleaned and in the cooler. I have done many many antelope and can have one from dead to cooler in about 20 minutes.
3) Get all the hair off immediately, dont let any be in the cooler or game bags... period.
4) dont shoot them running.

As for cuts... its all jerky for this guy when it comes to antelope. Too many nasty steaks in my day.

joe

 

[unm1136]

Ice water???

I thought just ice, and to keep the meat dry once it's cleaned off?

Sorry if that sounds ignorant, i've never quartered anything before so this is a new experience for me

Backstraps grilled hot and fast, breakfast sausage and jerky are the only thinks I like doing to antelope.

Most antelope habitat is dry, dunking and then air drying should not be too much of a problem. I carry contractor trash bags and would wrap and duct tape them before tossing them in a cooler of ice water if I were that concerned that I would not be able to air dry it quickly after cooling. My Kifaru Meat Baggie will hold a boned out antelope, easily, and is seam sealed. Icewater holds a lower temperature longer than plain ice, and it conforms to the shape of what is put into it so it cools faster.

pat

 

[cuerro viejo]

Simple solution to the smell. Quarter, toss in a cooler, pull plug and keep adding ice for about four days.

Knocks out the musky sage smell. Most the pronghorns i kill I have to check into a check station. So they get gutted and three bags of ice tossed in cavity, and I haul butt to town. Check them, then skin & quarter, then ice down good.

All taste great. Now if you are going to get it mounted, DO NOT leave blood on cape. Hair is hollow and will suck up the blood, and stain it. Rinse the he'll out of it first chance you get