Texas Hunting Forum

Wild Game Tastes. Mule deer. Vs Whitetail.

Posted By: Roll-Tide

Wild Game Tastes. Mule deer. Vs Whitetail. - 12/06/20 09:19 PM

I’m not as experience as most of y’all. Been eating whitetail since I was a kid. A few days ago I tried mule deer, it did not taste as good to me, pretty gamey.

My taste may be different.

My other opinions.
Black bear is disgusting.
Javalina is terrible.
Pronghorn taste the best, followed by Elk.

Thoughts on mule deer. ?
Posted By: TexasKC

Re: Wild Game Tastes. Mule deer. Vs Whitetail. - 12/06/20 09:43 PM

I don't care for mule deer or bear. IMO you can't beat axis or elk.
Posted By: Blank

Re: Wild Game Tastes. Mule deer. Vs Whitetail. - 12/06/20 10:07 PM

General comments from me alone, and my personal experience, from 40+ years of eating them here in the West.

Cow elk are better than bulls, doe deer are better than bucks. Just hormone difference, by generalities. Properly cared for, all meat is tasty, except bad pronghorn antelope! The cleaner you keep it, and the better cared for, improves it on your table.

Elk - my favorite western game meat - good in all cuts, and takes a great flavor with beef suet in the burger (I use 5-10%)
Whitetail - never had a bad one. I use pork shoulder 50/50 in burger and it melts in your mouth.
Mule deer - a little darker meat, and stronger taste. I steak out tenderloins, loins, and hams. All the rest is used in cut and formed jerky.
Wyoming (Shiras) moose is tasty, but tends to be tougher. Stews for roasts and stews where it cooks longer and slower
Bighorn sheep - yes please, right there with whitetail.
Mountain goat - the only meat I've found that gets bigger the longer you chew it. You can have all of mine.
Pronghorn antelope - there's good ones and bad. Nothing to do with care or age of anything. Fact of life. We cut off a steak and cook it, and if good it will all be good. Bad ones become spicy pepperoni or jerky.
Black bear - like greasy pork, strong flavor and needs a robust sauce or a lot of red wine!!
Mountain lion - only had once, very pale meat, like veal. Tastes like chicken. smile
Feral hogs - All females taste great, little ones on the BBQ are amazing. Anything over 50# with nuts goes in the trash pit at the deer lease, or is given to people I want to "un-friend"..

Never had axis yet, but anxiously waiting to try it.
Scimitar oryx - was wonderful, and would love to get another
Nilgai - OK, but won't rave about it. On par with bull elk.
Posted By: Jgraider

Re: Wild Game Tastes. Mule deer. Vs Whitetail. - 12/06/20 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by Roll-Tide
I’m not as experience as most of y’all. Been eating whitetail since I was a kid. A few days ago I tried mule deer, it did not taste as good to me, pretty gamey.

My taste may be different.

My other opinions.
Black bear is disgusting.
Javalina is terrible.
Pronghorn taste the best, followed by Elk.

Thoughts on mule deer. ?


I've killed over 40 muley bucks since 1971. I can count on one hand the "bad" ones. I've always taken extra good care of the meat though, and not everyone does that. Axis and gemsbok are the best I've ever eaten.
Posted By: don k

Re: Wild Game Tastes. Mule deer. Vs Whitetail. - 12/06/20 11:05 PM

I personally like Mule Deer better than WT. Though I have had a couple of Mule Deer that I have taken in the flats where it is mostly sage that I was not really fond of.
Posted By: bill oxner

Re: Wild Game Tastes. Mule deer. Vs Whitetail. - 12/06/20 11:26 PM

I had better lunch with does.
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