Even though hunting is often called trophy-oriented by its opponents, the main goal of hunters is usually to gain game. Hunting is not only a way of regulating the game population and managing the local game, but also a way of obtaining high-quality, organic food.
How to care for game?
In order to obtain this foodstuff cleanly and hygienically, it is important that the hunters take care of the game promptly after the shot (depending on the outside temperature and the type of hunting).
This includes a clean break open using the adequate tool and a quick removal of the organs stored in the game body and the blood collected in the game body by the shot. If the outside temperature is higher and there are also strong pieces on the track, it is advisable to make so-called ventilation cuts on the leaves of these, so that the cooling process of the game body can be accelerated after breaking open.
For this purpose, the hunter uses tools such as hunting knives, pry knives, bone saws, pry hooks, etc.
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How to cut the venison?
After breaking open the piece should be hung up promptly and left to hang freely so that it can "weld out". In this process, sweat (blood in hunter's terms) and wound secretions from the venison usually drain into a tub located under the carcass of the game.
Ideally, the game should not be cooled immediately after the shot (cold shortening effect), but if possible one should wait until rigor mortis sets in.
If there is a large distance to be covered, however, this waiting is usually not possible and the pieces are transferred to the cooling system as quickly as possible after being covered.
Mostly the pieces are hung up with the head upwards (at the gullet) or downwards (at the legs). Depending on the way of breaking open, the respective hanging method has hygienic advantages and disadvantages. For example, when hanging the game carcass after breaking it up using the striping method, it is possible to
How to cool game?
There is a lot of information about this. However, contrary to what the legislator recommends, the ideal storage temperatures for feathered game and furred game are +3 °C for a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 days. The following also applies: stronger pieces should hang cooled longer than weaker ones.
It is generally recommended that game be cooled in a blanket or rind, as this also preserves the game if there is no major contamination of the game carcass beforehand.
Occasionally, however, there are also hunters who let their pieces hang out already cut from the blanket/skin. Here it is to be paid attention strongly to the fact that the game body hangs freely and above all before impurities from the outside protected.
How to mature venison?
After hanging as described above, the venison can be cut up and utilized. Sufficient meat maturation has taken place.
If you would like to mature your meat further, for example to obtain dry-aged venison loin, you can do this in a drying cabinet designed for this purpose.
However, one should inform oneself sufficiently about this in order to obtain a satisfactory result. Dry-aging needs to be done skillfully.
Game recipes
Recipes for the processing of the extracted meat can be found in relevant literature, in forums and blogs, online or in cooking magazines or in many well-made video tutorials on YouTube.
Also Geartester.de provides a great collection of classic and modern game recipes including reviews, videos and tips&tricks. The topic of "grilling game" is also covered in depth there.
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