I've heard raccoon isn't bad, ditto woodchuck and beaver. We've got a cookbook from the 1940s that the Michigan extension office published: "Good Eating from Woods and Fields." Back then chicken, beef, and pork were rationed so people were encouraged to take advantage of small game.
For some odd reason, I've never been able to eat venison. No philosophical reason not to but there's just something about it I don't like. It reminds me too much of lamb, and for me lamb always smells like wet mittens.
The best game we ever had was a young bear that had been raiding a friend's apple orchard for several weeks before ending up in the freezer.
I've been noticing that most store-bought poultry is getting nastier and nastier in the way it tastes. Really makes me wonder what type of garbage they're feeding the birds.
I've eaten raccoon, and it was good. It probably depends on the age and diet of the animal.
Opossum used to be common fare among poor, rural folks in Alabama. I know some people who have eaten it, and they tell me that you have to trap the animal and feed it corn for a couple of weeks, otherwise the meat tastes like whatever the 'possum had been eating.
I have always wanted to try bear meat, but have never had the opportunity. I imagine a young bear that has been eating apples is about as good as it gets, kinda' like the Japanese beef cattle that stand around all day drinking beer and getting massages.
I've been a lifelong hunter for over 40 years, but I didn't learn that from my Dad. He enjoyed shooting, just not the killing part. When my brother and I brought home venison (wild animal meat), he ate it but complained of 'funny taste'.
Well yeah, its a completely different animal Dad. You don't expect beef to taste like pork, or chicken to taste like turkey. So yeah - venison tastes different - so what ?
Funny thing is Mom has no problem eating venison now. We grind the meat down to burger meat (VERY versatile) and she noted it has much less grease when cooking - thats heart healthy, something Mom espouses. Dad passed on years ago, so I was never able to convert him wholly. I figured he just had a problem knowing where it came from.
I really enjoyed the Sustenance N Cover videos. Keep up the good work.
Thanks! Yeah, when I saw that I knew it needed to be here.