Hunting used to be solely a means of survival. Today, because most of our food is farmed (and many protein-rich alternatives are available), hunting has become more of a sport, typically to help control certain animal populations.

Even so, true hunters avoid waste and always harvest as much of the game as possible. And with one deer yielding anywhere between 50 to 75 pounds of venison, on average, hunters can feed their families for weeks or even months.

Game meat can be prepared in countless ways, but one of the best ways to reduce its gamey flavor is to cook it in a stew.

For a list of six wild game stew recipes you’ll love, check out our previous article, “After the Hunt.”