Even though hunting is often criticized by its opponents as trophy-oriented, the main goal of hunters is usually the gain of wild game. Because through hunting, not only can the wildlife population be regulated and the management of local wildlife be accomplished, but also a high-quality, biological food can be obtained.
How to handle wild game?
It is important to be able to obtain this food cleanly and hygienically that hunters take care of the game promptly after the shot (depending on the outside temperature and the type of hunting).
This includes a clean opening using appropriate tools and a quick removal of the organs stored in the game body and the blood collected in the game body due to the shot. If the outside temperature is higher and there are also large pieces on the ground, it is advisable to make so-called ventilation cuts on the leaves, so that the cooling process of the game body can be accelerated after opening.
In this process, the hunter uses tools such as hunting knives, opening knives, bone saws, opening hooks, etc.
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How to hang wild game?
After opening, the piece should be hung up promptly and left to hang freely so that it can "bleed out." In this process, sweat (blood in hunting language) and wound secretions from the game meat usually flow into a tray located under the game body.
Ideally, the game should not be cooled immediately after the shot (cold shortening effect), but one should wait until rigor mortis sets in, if possible.
If a large amount of game needs to be processed, however, this waiting is usually not possible, and the pieces are quickly transferred to cooling after processing.
Usually, the pieces are hung with the head up (at the throat) or down (at the legs). Depending on the type of opening, the respective hanging method has hygienic advantages and disadvantages. For example, when hanging the game body after opening using the ring method.
How to cool wild game?
There are many different pieces of information on this. Contrary to what the legislator recommends, the ideal storage temperatures for game birds and mammals are +3 °C for at least 2 and a maximum of 8 days. It also applies: larger pieces should hang cooled longer than smaller ones.
It is generally advisable to let the game cool in a blanket or skin, as long as there is no significant contamination of the game body beforehand, the wild game is also preserved this way.
However, there are also hunters who let their pieces hang already removed from the blanket/skin. Here, it is crucial to ensure that the game body hangs freely and is protected from external contamination.
How to age wild game?
After the hanging described above, the wild game can be processed and utilized. Sufficient meat aging has occurred.
Those who want to age their meat further, for example, to obtain dry-aged venison, can do so in a designated drying cabinet.
However, one should inform themselves sufficiently about this to achieve a satisfactory result. Dry-aging requires skill.
Wild Recipes
Recipes for processing the obtained meat can be found in relevant literature, in forum and blog entries, 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 wild recipes along with reviews, videos, and tips & tricks. The topic of "Grilling Wild Game" is also thoroughly covered there.
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