Getting into 2026 with a fat rooster

[remy3424]

Got out with a cousin this morning and we needed about an hour for each to get 3 roosters. Gus gave me my 3rd after a finding the bird close to 50 yards from where it went down. I had one miss that should have been my 3rd, but the dog redeemed me, a couple hundred yards later.
Had one big, old, long spurred bird that was as fat as I have ever seen! Seems the food plots are were being used.

 

[SDinWI]

Wow, with spurs like that, looks like you guys took down the top dog! Great stuff

 

[GladHunter]

Fat like that is good for the birds, but from a culinary standpoint that is almost repulsive.

 

[remy3424]

I just pull off the big chucks and process as normal...just a bit of animal fat, maybe not the lean meat I have been used to! Needing more fat in my sausage, so all is good!

 

[GladHunter]

I'm not opposed to fat, but the fat I missed on my last bird cleaning made the meat taste nasty. I do go pretty light on seasonings so that may be why I notice the flavor change so strongly.

 

[remy3424]

Now I am curious of what it does taste like. Venison fat is a no-go, but beef and pork is fine.

 

[benelli-banger]

I’m mostly a Dutch oven user, slow braising more or less…kinda renders off the meat it seems…

 

[Goosemaster]

This time of year, most of them that are big, have some fat. They need a lot of chow to survive the long winter.