Eileen shares: “I hear it often: “why would you want to cover up the flavor of game?” But much more often I hear, “How can I make my game taste better and be more tender?” Since John and I like the flavor of game, and often don’t treat our game meat before cooking, I empathize with the first argument. But, for years, John trophy hunted mule deer in the rut, while I’d rather take a fat doe. so, we’ve had the off flavors, the gamy flavors and the bland ones.

Of course we’ve also had really delicious game meat that wanted no enhancement at all, except a little salt and pepper at the table. A mule deer buck I shot the Saturday after Thanksgiving – hard rut time – was a tender and delicious surprise, but if you’ve hunted for a few years you’ve had some of each in your freezer. Big game, upland birds, waterfowl or while pigs, there’s a marinade, brine and rub for that, and its in this book.”