What are the best tasting muleys eating?

[Newtosavage]

I'm thinking of going after mule deer with my son this year instead of elk, for a number of reasons. I'm not a trophy hunter, but one thing I've always admired is a great looking set of mule deer antlers. Not sure why but they always represent the iconic West to me. So if I'm going to hang one set of antlers on the wall in my lifetime, I want it to be a nice muley, from public land.

Only problem with this plan is I shot a muley when I lived in NM years ago, and my wife would hardly eat it. We grew up on whitetails, and she said that deer was too gamey for her. I shot it in the low juniper/high desert country so I'm thinking that had a lot to do with the flavor. I've considered staying home and hunting muleys in W. Texas, but I doubt they would taste any better. If I could bring home a muley that my wife will eat, then I'll probably spend more time hunting mule deer in the future. However, if she's put off a 2nd time, that will be the end of that! LOL

So my question is if I chase muleys on public land in Colorado, where could I expect to find the best tasting deer, if that's even a thing, and what are they eating in your experience?

 

[Newtosavage]

I'm kinda hoping the answer will be "high country" food, since that's where my son and I prefer to hunt. But I'm not above whacking one that just stepped off an alfalfa field on to BLM land either! LOL

 

[CCH]

I have had some from in the sage that were pretty rough. Marinade is your friend. High country is better IMO. No Muley is going to compare well to grain fed Whitetails.

 

[lif]

Honestly, if you don’t like eating them don’t shoot them. Most mulies are going to have the hint of high desert sage in the background of the flavors. Another thing to consider is become a semi expert in meat care from the time of the kill to the freezer to the table. If you guys don’t like “GAMINESS” then be sure to get anything white off the meat, age it, and take good care of the meat from kill to plate. My wife never loved venison growing up because her dad would serve them bone in ham steaks that got wrapped by the local butcher. Take care of your meat!!!!

 

[Dead Coyote]

I have hunted Mulies for almost 40 years from all types of areas and terrain. Some have tasted a little different, but for the most part I have never had one I couldn't eat. Taken care of the critter after the harvest is the key. Get them cooled down first, by taking the hide off and quartering. Get them out of the sun and elements. Keep them clean. Trim all excess tallow or fat off the meat. And cook them like you would beef. I never add pork or beef to my burger either.

 

[Muley Buck]

I've ate lots of deer from high country to low desert sage and plenty in between. When I was younger and much more ignorant in regards to meat care I would blame the taste of an off putting animal on a number of things. Did it die quick, what was it's diet, what time of year, how old, all those things but not consistent proper meat care. After I started focusing on taking the utmost care for the meat from field to freezer, ALL of the deer were delicious and I haven't had one I turned up my nose to in 8 years or so. Also I learned to cook / prepare meals the way the meat likes to be cooked and not the way I thought it should be cooked. I believe it's outstanding and love it! We eat deer, antelope and not much elk around here but I do get some given to me from time to time, but I'd take a muley venison steak above all of them. Call me crazy...

 

[Muley Buck]

I have hunted Mulies for almost 40 years from all types of areas and terrain. Some have tasted a little different, but for the most part I have never had one I couldn't eat. Taken care of the critter after the harvest is the key. Get them cooled down first, by taking the hide off and quartering. Get them out of the sun and elements. Keep them clean. Trim all excess tallow or fat off the meat. And cook them like you would beef. I never add pork or beef to my burger either.

Yup! If a guy didn't take care of a beef in the woods and kept the hide on, not properly cooling it and let the sun bake it and dragged it in the dirt and flies and then got it home cooked it up it would taste like garbage too!

 

[EastMT]

In high school I shot a large one around thanksgiving in NW Montana, high up on a mountain, knee deep snow. Neck was as big as you can imagine, it was pretty rough. Usually I can make some stout chili and eat about anything, had to make pepper sticks out of most of this one after mom cooked up some burger and we all were not impressed.

Most I’ve had are great from east and west Montana, but this was an exception. I don’t know the reason, but there are a few bad ones l guess is my point. I think more into the rut you raise the odds of a not so good one, but I think the odds are still in your favor for a good one.


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[Beendare]

Well I take real good care of my meat....and it hasn't mattered on those high country mulies. When they are eating browse in the high country, they don't have a good taste. I've had some that I swear you could still smell the sage brush in the meat.

The ONLY good mulie I've eaten was from W KS, and he was eating crops.

Put it this way, my dog loves it when I go mule deer hunting.

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[lif]

Hoping not too many folks are killing mule deer for horns and dog food.

 

[idahohikker]

I think it's mostly just taking good care of the meat and not being psychologically predisposed to thinking mule deer meat isn't good. I've had some excellent mule deer steaks from high elevation timber/sage country and low elevation desert sage.

I haven't shot a buck rutting in November so I don't have any opinion on that.

 

[backcountryshaffer]

I honestly think it's what you are trying to compare it to. If you live on corn fed beef (this smells and tastes repulsive to me) you're not gong to like the taste of a western game animal. Having said that, the best mulie I've eaten was living on the edge of an alfalfa field and BLM high desert in Central Oregon.

 

[lif]

I shot rutting bucks for 3 straight years 2015-2017. All tasted great. No difference at all. Younger deer are generally a little more mild in flavor and more tender. Besides the age I think a poor tasting buck is either random or a case of poor meat care. I eat almost exclusively mule deer and still searching for the one I turn my nose up to. That being said, not everyone likes carrots either.

 

[Wireman07]

Shot one last year on this chunk of public land in South dakota. And there were these berry trees all over the place. Let me tell ya that was some of best tasting Mule deer ive ever had

 

[backcountryshaffer]

I shot rutting bucks for 3 straight years 2015-2017. All tasted great. No difference at all. Younger deer are generally a little more mild in flavor and more tender. Besides the age I think a poor tasting buck is either random or a case of poor meat care. I eat almost exclusively mule deer and still searching for the one I turn my nose up to. That being said, not everyone likes carrots either.

I like carrots, if they are cooked in a slow pot with a mulie shank!

 

[lif]

I actually had carrots with some mulie roast last night.

 

[EastMT]

I do agree with the random, I love antelope, one of my favorites. We shot 2 bucks, side by side, bedded, no running, DRT. Same treatment, same period of time, hanging side by side cooling. One was rangy, one was mild. I haven’t hunted deer in 6 or 7 years. I’ve been buying points for 2020, hoping to draw deer and antelope at the same time for a trip down to visit family.


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[lif]

Also for Newtosavage, not sure your cooking abilities but that also is a huge part of it as stated in an earlier post. Knowing your cuts and how to cook them makes night and day difference. DO NOT OVER COOk! Lots of good info out there on cooking lean game meat. Have a couple recipes down that work for you and expand from there.

 

[Southforkguy]

I have had some from in the sage that were pretty rough. Marinade is your friend. High country is better IMO. No Muley is going to compare well to grain fed Whitetails.

I disagree completely on the whitetail topic. I will take a high country mule deer buck over a wisconsin whitetail all day. Could be that im burnt out on em too though.

 

[HUNTMAN]

Best ones I’ve ever had was out the sand hills of Western Nebraska