Waterbuck Meat...Yes or No??

[Stephen Haber]

All...i have heard lots of different opinions on whether or not waterbuck makes good venison. What are yoru thoughts? Y/N? If yes, how to prepare and what cuts should I use?

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

nothing wrong with waterbuck meat...... there is allot of old wives tales surrounding waterbuck meat.

fact: cutting off the hooves makes no difference
the skin has an oily base and as long as the musky outer skin (hairy parts) does not come into continual direct contact with the meat not even the most knowledgeable self proclaimed venison conesuer will be able to tell me the difference between it, kudu, wildebeest or any other venison for that matter.
Should the oily part have continual contact with the meat it will have a distinct musky almost rotten smell..........which is still safe for consumption btw. Preparation can be handled the same as any other african game

my very best always

 

[accipiter]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge Jaco. Based on the musty stench of the animal, I would have thought the meat is disgusting. Based on the old wives tales, I bet that most have never eaten it. Perhaps when it is served at a camp, the staff probably tell the hunters it is wildebeest or something else.

Based on what you said, I would be interested to give it a try.

 

[Stephen Haber]

Jaco...thanks. I ask because I ALMOST took a nice big waterbuck cow last week but then didn't because i wasn't sure of the meat, and didn't want to throw away R4000! Now i know.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Agree with Jaco.

 

[spike.t]

totally agree with jaco, nothing wrong with it as long as the outside doesnt touch the inside including hands as much as possible when skinning . i presume the myth came about because of the outside hide/hair and hands coming into contact with the meat and people not putting 2 and 2 together????????

 

[Bushman10]

We normally have three people skinning a Waterbuck. Two will hold and pull back the skin and the third will do the knife work. As long as the skin or the two handling the skin does not get into contact with the meat and al long as the knife handler does not get into contact with the skin everything is perfect.

 

[Huntin Africa]

We do the same as Bushman10, to make sure the skinner handling the skin does not get in contact with the meat.
The meat taste good. We always put the waterbuck meat into buttermilk for about an hour before preparation.
All venison taste good - the secret lies in the preparation of the meat.
Stephen you can enjoy WATERBUCK meat.

 

[Patrick R]

We normally have three people skinning a Waterbuck. Two will hold and pull back the skin and the third will do the knife work. As long as the skin or the two handling the skin does not get into contact with the meat and al long as the knife handler does not get into contact with the skin everything is perfect.

+1 and the skinner has to wash his hands in diluted sunlight dishwater soap now and then...meat is excellent!

 

[CAustin]

Thank you for the info Jaco. From everything I had heard I would have thought the meat to be awful. I do plan to get a trophy Waterbuck someday so I will ask the camp cook to prepare some. Any suggestions as to a good way to cook the meat?

 

[KuduKiller]

Thank you for the info Jaco. From everything I had heard I would have thought the meat to be awful. I do plan to get a trophy Waterbuck someday so I will ask the camp cook to prepare some. Any suggestions as to a good way to cook the meat?

I had the opportunity to eat my Waterbuck from this last trip. I was told how it was prepared as far as the skinning process and not letting the skin touch the meat. I found the meat to be edible but it almost had a "moldy" taste to it. We had the backstraps which were VERY tender but the taste was a little odd. Nothing a bit of Black Label wouldn't fix!

 

[DOC-404]

When skinned properly by an experienced skinner, as Jaco says, a Waterbuck steak is very, very nice with a sour cream sauce.

 

[Stephen Haber]

Thanks, brothers! If the opportunity to take a waterbuck comes along again, I will probably take it and enjoy some very good meat.

 

[Stephen Haber]

I had the opportunity to eat my Waterbuck from this last trip. I was told how it was prepared as far as the skinning process and not letting the skin touch the meat. I found the meat to be edible but it almost had a "moldy" taste to it. We had the backstraps which were VERY tender but the taste was a little odd. Nothing a bit of Black Label wouldn't fix!

How big was your waterbuck? from the photo he looks like a beauty.

 

[KuduKiller]

Don't quote me but I am thinking 29" and 28" roughly. My critters are still overseas. My PH did put the tape on them but I don't recall his rough score. I heard from several people that I need to have my taxidermist who is a scorer for SCI make sure to look at it when it gets home though. I know his bases were massive but that was the first time to ever put my hand on a Waterbuck too.

 

[daved]

nothing wrong with waterbuck meat...... there is allot of old wives tales surrounding waterbuck meat.

fact: cutting off the hooves makes no difference
the skin has an oily base and as long as the musky outer skin (hairy parts) does not come into continual direct contact with the meat not even the most knowledgeable self proclaimed venison conesuer will be able to tell me the difference between it, kudu, wildebeest or any other venison for that matter.
Should the oily part have continual contact with the meat it will have a distinct musky almost rotten smell..........which is still safe for consumption btw. Preparation can be handled the same as any other african game

my very best always

+1 but most importantly with ANY ANIMAL ,it needs to be a one shot kill.
Adrenaline from multiple shots will kill the best game meat
Bon Apatite
Dave

 

[bluey]

+1 but most importantly with ANY ANIMAL ,it needs to be a one shot kill.
Adrenaline from multiple shots will kill the best game meat
Bon Apatite
Dave

good point