I’ve hunted tons of pigs, but never shot a javelina. Is there a big difference in taste? Do you butcher, prep, and cook them the same?

Since a javelina is not a pig it is not going to taste like pork . To me the flavor is a little strong , so I smoke mine on the grille . They clean about the same .

They clean similar but don’t taste the same or have the same texture. More of a goat like texture, some cuts taste okay, most need lots of seasoning and slow cooked.

Nowhere near similar. Shoot ‘em young, clean thoroughly and take your chances. Frankly, I prefer possum.

just get stumblin drunk then you wont mind the taste, how ever i used to have a hunter that could cook one that was okay, have no memory of what he did though he might have just served it with a big jug of whisky

Well heck, sometimes even feral hog doesn't taste like feral hog, at least not like good feral hog. Javelina are not related to hogs, true enough. Their similar appearance is just convergent evolution. I would not expect them to taste alike, either, but then again, so much stuff tastes like other stuff, you never know. Look at all the things that taste like chicken that aren't chicken.

I think that the key is in the preparation, as with trying to cook a gamey boar. There are folks that enjoy their time in taking nasty feral hog meat and making it edible and sometimes even downright delicious, but sometimes I swear the amount of time and effort put into their cooking, they could have built Hornady a new primer facility and still have time and cash left over to pick up burgers for the family. I googled cooking javelina. Some recipes are "simple" and some not so simple. Based on what I read from the authors, it really seems like there are people who tend to like javelina flavor more so than others. For those that like it, less effort is needed.

I have had javelina, not a fan. Maybe my guy wasn't a great chef? Having to eat the meat just sounds like part of the penalty/punishment for having shot one in the first place. At least with feral hogs, some don't stink. Maybe that is true with javeline? My sample is of 1.

The first thing I do when thinking of trying something 'questionable' to eat, is to look and see if there is a Cajun Recipe for it.

This is useful in at least 3 ways:

1. If there is NOT a recipe for it, it isn't fit to eat.
2. If there is NOT a recipe for it, it doesn't exist (I.E. Bigfoot/Sasquatch).
3. If there IS a recipe for it, it is either already good to eat OR....they have figured out a way to make it tolerable.

Whoever wants mine is welcome to it.

There is a lot of truth to that statement.

Now that sounds like a damn plan…

Being someone who has served javelina to hunting buddies who thoroughly enjoyed it, I'm going to disagree and say that instead, the key is in the processing. Javelina have a stink gland on 'em much like a skunk. The trick is to avoid touching the meat when skinning and then to wash hands/change gloves before butchering. Do this and the meat will be fine. Even though feral hogs/deer/etc. have no such gland, I would process them the same way.

My opinion after shooting and eating dozens of javi is that the strong smell / taste bing caused by touching the meat with dirty hands is 1,000% old wives tail bs. Some stink some don’t jus like with pigs. With javi and hogs female and young are going to be good/better eating. Javalina is lean like deer needs to be treated similarly.

I ground up the 2 javelinas my son and I shot at the Chap and made chorizo, probably spiced out any javi flavor but it was good

maybe I just need to shoot one and see how it goes.

I've made the mistake of not being real careful and could taste a hint of that stink/secretion. But maybe you're right. Maybe it was in my head.

I’m not saying they don’t have a strong smell/taste, just don’t think improper treatment of meat causes it. Have shot many clean head shots skinned very carefully not to touch meat etc and still have the funk on the meat.

If you do try and eat it have a Plan B for the meal.

I have a friend who took his 10 year old son javelina hunting.
Grandma not wanting the boy to be disappointed with taste and not want to hunt switched the meat with pork.
Kid is 30 now, still hunts and still thinks grandma is world’s greatest cook.
We never ratted her out, he doesn’t know.

I’ve killed a LOT of them. I had a free place to mule deer hunt when I was in high school.The only stipulation was that my buddy and I kill every javelina we saw. I never killed one that didn’t stink. I would have to be pretty hungry to eat one!

I use to shoot them when I was young but since I got older I figured something out. They aren't pigs, they don't cause the damage of pigs, not as many as there was where I hunt, and why kill them if they are such a pain to clean and cook? If in area there is good numbers take one for trophy or they are major pain in back side! I kinda like watch them scurry around more than deal with stick on my hands.

They don’t root but they will chase deer off.