Thread: Favorite NZ Venison

Was having a chat among mates about the what everyone's favorite venison is.

I have eaten everything NZ has venison wise apart from sambar.

Most of us agreed that the old red deer is hard to beat for all around eating.
It is generally always tasty and tender.
A lot has to do with how it is treat from the shot to the table.

All the red deer I shoot for the table are fringe dwelling deer. They live off grass and shrubs in creeks, riverflats etc.
I also eat a lot of fallow and the odd whitetail.

I still think after all things considered the common red is the best to chew on.


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agreed....I enjoy fallow,whitetail was nice,sika excellent...my Mrs can pick fallow venison straight off and wont eat it (my bad ,fed her fallow while preggers) Ive tried to fool her a couple of times but she picks a bit then leaves the rest and puts me in the dog box for a month...... bit of a bugga as the wee deer are easier to find and carry out.
red steak that has been aged a little,seasoned and cooked well will always be hard to beat.

I forgot Sika. I would rank that a close second for me.

My wife hates red venison and loves fallow.
She likes chamois and Thar meat as well.
Kids eat anything.

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Red deer is my preferred with fallow a close second. You NI fellas can keep ya sika....

they likes what they likes....just as well or we would be out on the street.....

Red or fallow tough call

I used to consider red number one, but since tasting a young sika hind ,red is now second place. Whitetail is pretty good as well.fallow is third. And American buffalo has to be the best meat ever!

Fallow over red for me but then all of the Fallow I have shot were grazing the grass along the back of my property. Superbly tender.

Originally Posted by Friwi

I used to consider red number one, but since tasting a young sika hind ,red is now second place. Whitetail is pretty good as well.fallow is third. And American buffalo has to be the best meat ever!

We are talking NZ venison but if it is best ever game meat I have eaten, it would be Stone sheep, then Moose.
Buffalo is good but even better when crossed with a Hereford.

Pitt Island sheep are awesome as well.

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I reckon it's like you initially said, a well fed animal, harvested humanely and handled properly post kill will always be the best eating. If given the choice I'd make that animal a red I think...

Best nz venison I've had was from a prime fat red stag taken in late sumer and aged for a week, superb!

My list would be fallow, sika, (tahr) then red. Haven't tried much else although once had young goat leg steak fried in butter on fresh bread with salt and pepper. That I still remember from about 25 years ago.

Reds for me, fallow is superb if they are from a farm, those mid winter Greenstone fallow are pretty chewy, nothing wrong with Stewart Island Whitetail either.

I’m interested to know where Wapiti sits in the equation ?

A Jap that's been left hanging to age

Originally Posted by Ground Control

I’m interested to know where Wapiti sits in the equation ?

Real elk I have eaten overseas are ok.
Rather eat any other venison we have here.

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