With hunting seasons already open, or set to open soon, many hunters will be filling their freezers with meat.
In recent years, there’s been increased emphasis on taking and preparing game. While hardcore hunters consider butchering and eating their harvest an integral part of the experience, it seems like the eating part of the hunting equation has drawn new people to hunting in recent years.
We’ve all heard that wild game meat, in general, is healthier than store-bought versions, so the idea here is to put some figures behind that assertion. Remember, the taste of your wild game depends to a large degree on how you handle it and cook it, but below are the nutritional values for a variety of species, as well as for some of the domestic meat we commonly eat.
The following numbers have been derived from several sources, and represent what you can expect to find in a 3- to 3.5-ounce piece of meat.
White-tailed deer
Calories: 134
Fat: 3 grams
Protein: 26 grams
Elk
Calories: 137
Fat: .9 grams
Protein: 23 grams
Duck
Calories: 102
Fat: 4 grams
Protein: 16 grams
Canada goose
Calories: 201
Fat: 12 grams
Protein: 24 grams
Wild turkey
Calories: 163
Fat: 1 gram
Protein: 26 grams
Grouse
Calories: 140
Fat: 1 gram
Protein: 24 grams
Pheasant
Calories: 207
Fat: 9 grams
Protein: 27 grams
Black bear
Calories: 220
Fat: 11 grams
Protein: 28 grams
Moose
Calories: 114
Fat: 1 gram
Protein: 25 grams
Beef
Calories: 213
Fat: 13 grams
Protein: 22 grams
Chicken
Calories: 219
Fat: 13 grams
Protein: 25 grams
Domestic turkey
Calories: 153
Fat: 1 gram
Protein: 34 grams
Pork
Calories: 147
Fat: 8 grams
Protein: 19 grams