Wild Game in North America

In North America, a wide range of wild animals are hunted. These include deer, elk, buffalo, ducks, geese, pheasants, doves, rabbits, wild goats, quail, turkeys, and wild boar. The most commonly hunted animal in the U.S. is the deer.

Because many of these species are protected, lawmakers have instituted legal hunting seasons where certain animals can be killed on public lands. During the off-season, you could be ticketed or even jailed for hunting the same animal. This is also to ensure that not too many of the animals are killed. The point of hunting isn’t to wipe out the species, but mainly often to thin the herds for upcoming winter months.

Since wild game is, well...wild, it’s important to take precautions in preparing it before you eat it. It should be field-dressed as soon as possible after the kill. Field-dressing entails removing the inner organs. The carcass should also be kept off the ground, and kept cool during transport.

Game tends to be leaner and tougher than farm-raised animals, so cooking it usually entails a little more preparation as well. It should be immediately refrigerated or frozen, and should then be roasted, stewed, or marinated to make the meat tender.

Even though wild game is hunted, the animal populations are carefully controlled and monitored by organizations dedicated to preserving the species in adequate numbers across the country. These organizations include Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, and various state and federal fish and wildlife commissions.