Baffin Island in the Northwest Territories can be downright mean to hunters. It’s cold, windy, and wet. Campfires are a luxury on Baffin. There are no trees, and the only vegetation is lichen and moss. The shoreline is a maze of ankle-twisting rocks. But the caribou hunting more than made up for the aches and pains in my body when I hunted there years ago.

If you’ve never cooked venison before, perhaps you’re excited, because you’ve heard that it’s pretty much like beef. On the other hand, maybe you’re a bit intimidated because you’ve also heard that it can be tough and gamey.

As with most things in life, it is what you make it. With some practice and care, you can make venison absolutely delicious. The following tips may prove useful in your venison-cooking journey.