Thread: Favorite NZ Venison

Apart from one feed of Sika I have only eaten Fallow and Red Red/Wap cross NZ venison and I have eaten a fair bit from both animals that were...
Farmed.
Wild on farms with access to improved pasture.
Wild on public land 90% bush deer with no close tops or flats.
Wild on public land with close tops and river flats.

Averaged over that I would say in my experience the Fallow I have eaten generally are milder in flavor and possibly a touch more tender while the Reds on average are a bit more gamey and those true bush reds can do it hard at times and be very gamey and a bit tough even if a nice young hind.

Id struggle to call any Fallow I have shot a true bush deer they have all been within fairly easy range for a deer of forestry/farmland/recreation areas even if on public land.

Farmed Fallow tender and tasteless.
Farmed Red and Red/Wap cross same same but maybe a bit more flavor and texture if splitting hairs.

Wild on farm with a native buffer zone is in my humble opinion is where ONE OF the best (flavor and tenderness/condition) generally comes from, they get the flavor from browsing the native bush and get the pick of the farm for the best tucker every night.

The other is where they have access to both flats/slips bush and quality tussock all in easy deer range.

2 year old Tussock fed red hind is my pick.....Its all about what they are eating.