Purely a taste thing, I've had it a few times many many years ago and was not crazy about the taste. However I did have it once as a breakfast sausage and liked, but that is because I think I was drenching it in maple syrup. Anything can taste good fully dunked in a bowl of syrup. I'd certainly try it again as I know many people rave about it. I have a few friends that hunt I reached out to. I also thought about doing a guided hunt on private land just to get a better idea, feel, and learn a thing or two. I've had Elk before, OUTSTANDING! If Elk were more populated I'd be hunting more for them. While I love the idea of being outdoors with nature and traversing the terrain, I don't want to shoot anything for the sake of shooting it, I want to make sure I enjoy it and will consume it. Thought Pheasant was a good place to start, does not seem crazy hard to do (even for me), looks fairly easy to clean/cook, and sounds like it's pretty mild in taste compared to other game.
This probably goes without saying, but I have to say it anyway... This can be said for most foods, but I think it's even more important and pronounced with any wild game...it can all be about the actual animal, and the preparation/how it's cooked. Ain't nothing like some fried deer meat in gravy (made by the right person...)! I've cooked deer a certain way and it was delicious...don't the same thing a different time and it wasn't as good...I think it was that particular animal (and my taste/ perception at the time of eating perhaps). I've had "x species of wild game inserted here" that was awesome fixed 'this way by this person', and the same same meat be not good another time/different way.
Venison is very easy to overcook and ruin if you’re not used to cooking it. It’s common for us to bring some deer meat when out on the ice fishing. One of my buddies an excellent hunter will always cook it to boot leather doneness. His kids won’t eat deer because they don’t like the taste, I have on many occasions cooked deer meat for them and forgot to tell them is deer and they will eat it all no problem. Rare is where it’s at.
My son has just started waterfowling this year. I used to when I was in my early 20s until I was about 35. Just didnt have as much time. Im planning on getting back into it. Heaven knows I have a small fortune wrapped up in gear. This is his first duck. Its also his boat.
Congrats on the Bufflehead young man. Also used to be a avid duck hunter but somehow age catches up to you
