Are Javelina good table fare? I'm sure there are lots opinions, a lot of people don't seem to like wild hog, but the ones I have shot have been quite good, at least good BBQ. I am thinking of going to south Texas early in the fall, and was thinking about going after Javelina.

DGK

I guess it all depends on who you talk to. Some people say it's great eating and others wouldn't even feed it to their dogs. I only ate it once in some tamales and they had so much hot peppers in them you couldn't taste the meat. I'll guarantee you one thing, about those tamales. There was some serious fire down below for several days.
Paul B.

Javelina are a good eating animal. Its got to be skinned right away and with great care not to get the hair anywhere on it.
The musk glad is on the back and this oily stinky stuff will ruin the meat if it gets on it in.
We have always made breakfast suasage with the ones we have taken. If you do get a big old boar or a bit of hair that leaves the musk scent, soak the meat in butter milk or regular milk. It will take out the gaminess and scent.

We take the weight of the javelina meat add 1/2 the total of that in pork (we use boston butts)and 1/4 of the pork meat weight in smoked bacon ends. This gets ground twice. Course then fine.Add sausage seasoning to taste and mix well.
Makes a great sausage.
Coues

Most people don't mess with them because it's quite a bit of work for a little meat. As coues said, you have to be very careful with them because of the musk gland. In most places in Texas, people would rather deal with wild hog meat because it's hard to screw that up and you get more bang for you buck. With that being said, there are some people that take the time to mess with javelinas and generally like the taste of the meat.

Several years ago I shot some Javalinas in deep south Texas. The meat was OK if not over cooked. It is not as good as wild pig.
I have found wild pig to be the BEST game meat around.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul B:
I only ate it once in some tamales and they had so much hot peppers in them you couldn't taste the meat.
Paul B.

There's a reason for all those peppers! Javelina have a "distinctive" taste but young ones are not bad when dressed and prepared properly.

You should definately consider hunting them; everyone should take one, but watch out for the fleas!

Regards,
hm

quote:

but watch out for the fleas

and ticks, and lice...

Definately one animal best hunted in the dead of winter...

Like any wild game, some like 'em, some don't. Like the guys said, they take some special consideration in dressing...but IMHO they are right there with wild goat/sheep, when well done they are ok.

Great fun if you stumble into a herd of them. Most places I've hunted consider them varmints and ask you to not hold back. They generally offer you a variety of shots as they seem to have trouble figuring out which way you are and which way is the exit.