Very, Very Venison. By Babe Winkelman Every time I knock down a deer with the .300 Win Mag or put an arrow right through the boiler room, one of the first thoughts that goes through my mind is the taste of grilled venison. After all these years, all those deer and so many wonderful meals, I have never lost my appreciation for the animal or the delicious protein he gives to me and my family. Now let me make something perfectly clear: I like a good cut of beef as much as the next guy. But I like venison better. In addition to the fantastic flavor, there are certain superior health benefits that deserve mentioning because of venison’s lean character. With that said, consider this… a 3-ounce cut of venison contains 3 grams of total fat and 1 gram of saturated fat. Comparatively, a “lean” cut of beef comes in at 15 grams of total fat and 6 grams of saturated fat! That’s a huge difference, and one that makes it not surprising that more and more fine restaurants are offering their customers venison on the menu as a healthier alternative. But that’s not all. Venison also reigns superior in protein and vitamins. The same two cuts of meat yield 26 grams of protein for venison compared to 23 grams for beef. In VENISON vs. BEEF, the nutrient numbers are: 3.8mg vs. 2.3mg for iron and .6mg vs. .3mg for vitamin B6 – both in favor of venison! The list of health advantages goes on, but let’s get on to better things – like flavor and ownership. By ownership, I mean the sense of accomplishment that comes with sitting down for a meal of something you’ve harvested or caught. Imagine putting on a walleye fish fry for your family and a bunch of friends. They rave about the fish and appreciate so much the fact that you went out and actually gathered the protein. That’s a great feeling. It makes a meal that much more special.  The same is true with venison. With every delicious bite, everyone will appreciate you as the provider. More than that, when you (the hunter) sits down for dinner, every bite will spur memories of the hunt itself. What was the weather that day? How did the deer come into the stand site? What kind of shot did you take? Every detail of the hunt comes back to you as you enjoy your meal. It is the celebration of the harvest! Now, let’s talk flavor. I don’t know how many people I’ve heard say “it’s so gamey” when they talk about venison. And you know what? They’re right. Compared to beef, there is a game taste, which is great as far as I’m concerned. It’s a deer after all. But here’s the thing: the reason people claim a “gamey” taste is because they haven’t prepared venison as venison needs to be prepared. They cook it like beef, which is a different animal. In order to enjoy the flavor that’s there in every steak, people must prepare venison the way it’s meant to be cooked. My wife Kris is a magician in the kitchen, and many of her venison recipes are available at winkelman.com. In the meantime, before you go there and try some of those dishes, here’s what I want you to do. Cut some steaks from your next venison tenderloin. Rub them up with any old steak rub you can buy from the grocery store. Let them sit for an hour or so to soak up the seasoning. Next, heat up your grill to the max. Then take those seasoned steaks and throw them on the fire and cook them fast. By fast, I mean sear them for a few minutes per side and then dig in with some sautéed mushrooms and a side of green vegetables. That venison should be medium rare to rare when it’s done. If you have an aversion to medium rare meat – well, then you just have to be brave and have a single bite! It’ll change your thinking. If you cook it to medium or well-done, then prepare for tougher gaminess. Venison, when pink in the middle but perfectly safe to eat, is hands-down the most amazingly tender and flavorful red meat on planet earth. If you put it on a plate at the fanciest restaurant in New York City, properly prepared, then that restaurant would get five stars in the next edition of the New York Times restaurant review. I wish you a safe and fruitful hunting season, and good eating along the way. Good Hunting. Babe Winkelman hosts “Good Fishing” and “Outdoor Secrets,” the most-watched fishing and hunting programs on television. Tune in on NBC Sports Network, Destination America, Velocity, Time Warner Sports Texas & New York, Comcast Chicago and many local broadcast channels. Visit Winkelman.com for air times and more information.