In my experience, “Gamey” is a word that people tend to use(perhaps incorrectly)to describe any strong flavor in meat that they don’t like. I think much of this comes from people being somewhat narrow-minded in how they cook/process their game meat. I think of the general idea that antelope is inferior as a great example of this. Everyone in my family enjoys antelope. It’s different. It’s a little stronger than the grass and corn grazed whitetails I grew up eating, but it’s still very good.
The way the animal and meat is handled is the greatest factor. I think it goes without saying too that a deer that was gut shot and laid up in a thicket somewhere for a couple hours before being shot again is headed down the road of poor palatability long before it reaches the pan. I also think that even in that situation, things can be done to create a finished product that is still pretty tasty if a person handles it the right way.
I’ve had beef that tasted worse than the worst cut of game meat I can ever recall eating. Then again, I don’t like bland food by any stretch of the imagination. Some people sure seem to.
The way the animal and meat is handled is the greatest factor. I think it goes without saying too that a deer that was gut shot and laid up in a thicket somewhere for a couple hours before being shot again is headed down the road of poor palatability long before it reaches the pan. I also think that even in that situation, things can be done to create a finished product that is still pretty tasty if a person handles it the right way.
I’ve had beef that tasted worse than the worst cut of game meat I can ever recall eating. Then again, I don’t like bland food by any stretch of the imagination. Some people sure seem to.
