Are old bull Elk ALWAYS TOUGH?

[2rocky]

My Wife is actively rooting for me to shoot a small young bull this Fall. She said she is tired of even the Hamburger being tough...
Any hints for dealing with big stinky bulls?

I know I want to age at least 14 days...

What else?

 

[realunlucky]

Marinate it or slow/pressure cook it. I had one you could barley jab a fork in. I soaked that sucker in coke, butter milk, red wine, apple vinegar, they all made a improvement but still my wife never did find something she loved 100%. For burger course grind it than run it again though the medium screen and that should help.

 

[Jpeaston]

the whole bull except the straps goes through the crockpot at our house.

 

[gulicemo]

Never killed an old bull, but most wild game get's tough once it gets cooked past medium rare... I like it rare and tender.

 

[mtluckydan]

I would not let it age at all. Game animal fat is not at all like beef fat. The longer you let it age the more gamey it will taste. The sooner you can get it in the freezer the better. Also, if you cut your own meat, trim everything off that isn't red. Don't leave any fat or silver tendon. Sometimes no matter what you do on a large bull, it will taste strong. However, most of the time it will taste like any other bull. If you are really worried about it, shoot a cow. Solves the problem.

 

[Bonedalien]

the whole bull except the straps goes through the crockpot at our house.

this is exactly how my old bull was served at my house. aslo "old bull" is great for hunting, or school lunch jerky. my crafty 3rd grader has found that she can trade elk jerky for about anything in the lunchroom.The sweet little girl has no idea how daddy damn near killed himself getting that elk,so cheers to you,the hunter who got the elk.

 

[jmez]

Pretty much any old bull is going to be tough and gamey. There is a reason on the commercial meat side that old bulls and cows go into sausage and variety meats, they are tough and don't taste good.

14 days won't likely be long enough to make any difference. Aging does increase tenderness but it also concentrates the natural flavor of the meat, kind of a catch 22 with and old bull that has been rutting.

 

[Ironman8]

How old is "old"?

 

[dieNqvrs]

Long time lurker, new account member and first post but ....

I don't age wild meat. We process as soon as possible. Remove all fat, seams and anything not red, for the most part.

Do you process and grind yourself? If you do, do a double grind or use a finer holed plate if you already double grind your burger. Burger shouldn't be tough no matter how old it is.

I have received quite a few old bulls from a guiding outfit. All tasted great but some choice cut-steaks were really tough. Used a Jaccard tenderizer and that helped quite a bit.

All other stuff gets ground into sausage & burger. I personally have never had tough burger.

Those big ones look good on the wall but need a little more work to come out of the pan palatable by all.

 

[Bonedalien]

How old is "old"?

My buddy who helped me and who has way more experience than me judged my bull as a 6 year old,based on his teeth.

 

[Bonedalien]

. Used a Jaccard tenderizer and that helped quite a bit

Those big ones look good on the wall but need a little more work to come out of the pan palatable by all.

what is a Jaccard tenderizer? have not heard of that.

 

[justin davis]

I've killed a few mature bulls in my day. I wouldn't say they were really old?
But I've never had a bad eating one. All pretty tender.
Overcooking makes game "tough."

 

[sanchomaes]

^^^^Listen to this guy.

 

[dieNqvrs]

what is a Jaccard tenderizer? have not heard of that.

http://www.jaccard.com/Original-Super-Meat-Tenderizer--48-Knife_p_10.html