8 hogs later (350lbs is my biggest) I have some of the best meat I have ever eaten. I'm baffled by the bad rep. Why?
Matter a fact the first boar I shot the locals told me to just leave it (which I was like what!?!!?!) It was excellent eating.
My kids love it even more than deer which they love.
Of the 8 hogs I have shot 7 were boars over 200+ lbs.
I will say as soon as they are down they are skinned, quartered and in coolers which has always made the game I eat excellent table fare.
Anyway, was wondering if I have just been lucky or everyone has had the same experience?
Right now I would say my order of preference is antelope, hog and then elk. As a TV host says, those are "good eats!"
I know many have killed more game than I have I probably have 100+ animals under my belt and can say I have NEVER had a bad eating animal. Not 1. Now I have missed and had the unfortnate experieces of making bad shots (so I am no super hunter by any means).
I was lucky enough to start hunting antelope first and because you hunt them in 100+ degree weather at times you have your animal in a cooler in 1-2 hours max.
I kind of institued that with all game I hunt and am careful as can be to not get anything nasty on my meat and wash it down when I can and have it wrapped in frozen immediately.
My wife and I have been married 16 years and we have lived off of wild game. My kids love it as well.
Sorry for the long winded post just a thought I had.
-Cheryl
Thanks for the tip!!! I will keep that in the memory.
And if you believe that, I have this bridge to talk to you about...
Javelina is another with a bad rep, but I've got a friend who has been hunting them for years. He brought some on our antelope hunt this year and I think it may have edged out antelope as my favorite wild meat. It was incredible, and all he did to cook it was put it in the crock pot with some wine and onion soup mix.
When a boar is breeding sows he is gamey if he's not he tastes as good as anything else.
:)
It was so ridiculously good I still can't believe how much I love the meat. My 5 yo daughter thinks its the best.
I pray I never shoot a boar as Pig Doc has mentioned. That would be a shame!
"Boars, whether wild or domestic, produce a hormone, androstenone, that along with skatole, cause boar taint."
Based on your above statement I am serious when I ask this question- do all mammals, including man, have a harmone like a pig that produces a bad odor?
Thanks
Most sows are great flavor...No "boar" taste
Young boar is great (mostly 1 year or younger)
Castrated males are great...
Old boar (mature) that have been "rutting" are rank. Keep in mind that hogs can, and do breed year round, just more in cooler months of fall/winter and spring. Food dictates breeding activity as well.
If I had to put a percentage of good, non-hormonal favor versus rank favor boar, I would say 70% strong and 30% neutral. Again, this isn't science, but our true life, being around it 24/7 experience.
Seems most everyone that comes to kill a hog says "I want a boar!" I tell them if you want one to mount then have at it. If for food, shoot a sow. I think the men feel it's more "manly" to shoot a BOAR! 8*} It's that testosterone...go figure!
Respectfully,
Matt Napper
Shiloh Ranch Hunting Camp
Most sows are great flavor...No "boar" taste
Young boar is great (mostly 1 year or younger)
Castrated males are great...
Old boar (mature) that have been "rutting" are rank. Keep in mind that hogs can, and do breed year round, just more in cooler months of fall/winter and spring. Food dictates breeding activity as well.
If I had to put a percentage of good, non-hormonal favor versus rank favor boar, I would say 70% strong and 30% neutral. Again, this isn't science, but our true life, being around it 24/7 experience.
Seems most everyone that comes to kill a hog says "I want a boar!" I tell them if you want one to mount then have at it. If for food, shoot a sow. I think the men feel it's more "manly" to shoot a BOAR! 8*} It's that testosterone...go figure!
Respectfully,
Matt Napper
Shiloh Ranch Hunting Camp
I agree 100 percent. I quit shooting boar hogs many yrs ago. Although I do know a guy that swears you can shoot a rank one put it in a cooler full of ice and add grapfruit juice and let it drain down. Do that a few days and he says it will take the stinch out of them. I told him I'd rather just take the grapefruit juice put a little vodka in it and let the boar hog go.
Look like sows from here on out unless it's a big tusker!!!!
BTW The guide on the left is 250 lbs to give you an idea of how big he is!
Seriously though...I really believe some people (such as myself have vary sensitive palates. Boar can be so tuff it takes a saw to cut the gravy though.
Swine and Dine!
Matt
Thanks for your response. I have found this to be an interesting thread.
Tradman and Huntress your response is right in line with what other hog hunting operations have shared with me.
Tkx
ROTFLMAO!
1) people who have actually TRIED boar meat, and dislike it, must actually taste and/or asmell something there that I can not and :
2) people who actually EAT mayonnaise can not POSSIBLY be smelling (or tasting, ugh!) what I smell and taste!
However, wild boar meat tastes like Kobe beef (ok maybe a stretch there) but I am passing hunting deer this weekend to chase more hogs!!!)
WILD BOAR...It's whats for dinner at my house!
mayonnaise smell seriously gags me
Yes, there are some old stinky pigs, but I think it happens a lot less than claimed. And I also suspect that meat care plays a part in it, too.
Yes, there are some old stinky pigs, but I think it happens a lot less than claimed. And I also suspect that meat care plays a part in it, too.
Seriously, I am closer to Nashville than Newport News.
No "mayo belt" here!
That answer your question? ;-)
