Buck or doe?

[Rhett Griffith]

I shoot more does than bucks, just because we are allowed 7 deer total, but only 2 bucks. Over the years I have only had one buck that was rank-tasting and he was a big old 12-pointer that was shot at the peak of the rut. My kids really like to eat the fawns, because the meat is more tender, all other factors being equal. In the end, preparation is the key to tasty venison, both in the field and in the skillet.

 

[larry wv]

Deer eat corn and alfalfa around here so they taste about the same.(Buck or Doe). I think its been around 30 0r 35 years since I killed a Doe. BUT the coyotes have killed most of the game here. Didn't have the heart to kill a deer last year. Think I will kill a Doe with the Bow this year. I miss Deer steak. Larry Wv

 

[crockett]

I thought the idea of hanging a deer was to tenderize it. If you screwed up the field cleaning or if the animal has just been eating bitter stuff- then the "gamey" taste might be there but the hanging will still tenderize it. To be honest- I've never bothered hanging any game but some guys tell me it makes a big difference. One guy is a butcher and has done it quite a bit- you lose some of the exterior meat- or so I was told.
Buck versus doe- I speak in general terms. Exceptions obviously exist.

 

[rabjr]

Aging is allowing a good Bacteria to grow and break down the muscle. If you don't have the right temps to do this it won't work. Your basically doing a controlled rot. I have a refrig out in the Cooler dedicated for aging meat. Quarter the animal, place in frig at 38 degrees. Turn once or twice a day for at least two weeks.

 

[S.Kenton]

Both, I think its MORE age than a sex difference.. I take as many deer as I legally can in Ohio. One buck for the whole state.. and a WHOLE lot of does. Both sexes, depending on age, can be tough. Timely field dressing and hanging time are a factor.The proper cooking techniques help out as well. I shot a HUGE 10 pt buck one year, I estimated his age at 4-5 yrs. The back strap of that buck was one of the best I ever ate... shot an older HUGE doe the year after after that.. she was fairly tough, but still tasty! I butcher my own deer...so I select my own cuts of steak. Depending on the age of the deer is how much steak I get.. for example: an older large Buck, front legs...summer sausage. Back legs...summer sausage or jerky. Neck meat.. stew or roast. backstrap and inner loins are always steak on ALL deer. For a younger deer, I would cut the back legs into steak. ALL my excess " waste" is turned into summer sausage or snack sticks depends on what I wanna do at the time. I try and not waste much meat at all and by the time I'm done I have a pile of mostly bare bones..I know I got a little off topic..

 

[S.Kenton]

I wish i had a large walk-in fridge. If its cold and I've shot a deer..I simply leave it hang in the barn as long as I can. I've left them hanging for up to three weeks.. and as little as 2 hrs.

 

[flyfisher76544]

First two deer of the season is to fill the freezer with some meat. Doesn't matter whether its a buck or a doe. Afterwards I start becoming more selective. But to answer the question, I prefer a doe over a buck.

 

[Rat Trapper]

The 1.5 year old bucks are normally fine. Ever since QDM came in, we now shoot older bucks. I have found that they are just fine prior to the rut. However if shot during our gun season which starts while the rut is just ending or still going on some years, the old ones stink! So if I can get a big one during the early bow season I keep and eat them. Any shot during the gun season are donated to the food pantry. We have lots of deer on my farm, I don't have to eat bad meat.

 

[Walks with fire]

I have no desire to shoot a buck; unless, it's a very large antlered deer. When I was much younger I shot any buck and we only had a 3" restriction on buck here in PA at the time.

I am a meat hunter and only shoot doe now. I let quite a few of those pass as well because I just really enjoy the time in the woods. I do like to make things from antler so I often go shed hunting in the spring.