Avid hunter publishes venison recipe cookbook

Allan Herne has learned a thing or two about venison, or deer meat, throughout his lifetime. The avid hunter has successfully hunted at least 500 deer over the years and he’s learned how to cook along the way as well. Recently, Herne released his own cookbook to share with others all he’s learned about venison cooking. “Venison Recipes from the Antler Den” is Herne’s personal collection of recipes he’s been sharing with friends and family for years.

“I’ve always done a lot of hunting right from when I was a kid,” said Herne, now retired from the mental health profession. “My grandfather taught me everything about hunting and I learned about cooking from my mom.”

Herne has a true array of dishes in his cookbook that turn out perfectly tender venison. From venison hash to venison burgers, there’s so much that can be done with venison meat and Herne wants others to enjoy it as much as he does.

“Venison is so lean it cooks faster,” he said. “A lot of people overcook it and it gets tough and then people say, ‘It tastes like leather!”

Herne, who says he rarely eats beef, said his recipes were developed by taste. His mother had a Mohawk saying when he was growing up that meant “Taste it – if it’s good, it’s good.” So, the recipes in “Venison Recipes from the Antler Den” have been tried, tested and perfected.

“What I wanted to do was try and make it easy to cook,” Herne said. “It’s simple and you can make an awesome wild game meal.”

While the cookbook focuses on venison Herne has experience cooking with all types of wild game food. He spends the hunting season at his camp in the Brasher State Forrest he’s dubbed “The Antler’s Den” and it is decorated top to bottom with hunting related furnishings and Herne’s personal antler collection.

“When you’re out there, it’s so quiet and peaceful and you can get creative,” he said.

During hunting season Herne often goes out at dark and waits for the sun to come up.

“It’s just beautiful, you see everything come alive,” he said.

After hunting a deer Herne said he always burns tobacco and says a prayer thanking the Creator and wishing the deer well on its journey.

The “Venison Recipes from the Antler Den” can be purchased at the Bear’s Den Gift Shop, at the Akwesasne Museum or by emailing Herne at jhall005@twcny.rr.com