How to Make Venison Jerky
Many deer hunters run out of ideas as to what to do with all their deer meat. They often grill or fry the loins and have the shoulders and hams processed into sausage or burgers. You may never get tired of these types of venison, but in case you don, don't overlook another option - deer jerky. Jerky is a great way to use the fore and hindquarters, and it makes a delicious, high-protein snack that needs no refrigeration. Because of its easy portability, it's great for taking along while you're deer hunting for more meat!
Following are two easy recipes for deer jerky:
Teriyaki-Flavored Jerky
Trim any fat and fascia from 5 pounds of venison and cut it into 1/4-inch thick strips, slicing against the grain. Mix together 1/8 cup vegetable oil, 2 cups teriyaki, 2 tablespoons finely minced garlic, 1 tablespoon black pepper, and 4 teaspoons season salt. Place meat strips in large ziplocs and cover with marinade, removing as much air from the bag as possible. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours. Remove strips from bag, shaking off marinade, and place on foil-lined baking sheets. Bake at 200 for about 5 hours.
Smoke-Flavored Jerky
Follow first step from above. For marinade, mix 1/8 cup of oil, 1 tablespoon Liquid Smoke, 4 teaspoons garlic salt, 2 cups worcetershire sauce, 1 tablespoon onion powder, and 2 tablespoons black pepper. Marinate strips overnight, and place on baking sheets. Bake for 5 hours at 200 degrees.
Note: Ovens vary. Check your strips after 4 hours. If the strips are not dry after 5 hours of baking, continue baking, checking them every 15-20 minutes.
Once your jerky strips are done cooking and are approproately dried, store them in airtight containers.
Read articles about hunting by clicking the links below:
- Tips for Processing and Aging Deer Meat, with Videos
If you're a deer hunter, you probably already know how to field dress deer. If not, watch the video below this article of how to dress a deer. The guy in the video does the job from start to finish in... - Southern Cuisine: Holle's Country Fried Deer Steaks
In another life (or so it seems), I married into a family of cattle farmers. They had a huge farm, with lots of wildlife, including white-tailed deer. My ex and I were both hunters, and we ate venison often.... - Southern Cuisine: Smoked Venison Roast
Some people don't care for venison because they say it was a wild or gamey taste. I say they haven't had it cooked right! When prepared properly, deer meat tastes like good lean beef.... - Hunting and Animal Cruelty: The Good and the Bad
A happy, well-fed whitetail deer. This article is really meant for meat eaters only. If you're a vegan, I respect your views, but I already know your feelings on the issue. This article was chiefly written... - Free Natural Hunting Scents for Whitetail Deer
If you're a deer hunter, you know that whitetails have a highly developed sense of smell. They're wary critters they have to be. Deer are typical prey animals, and they have that inherited instinct...