Expert: Keith Patton - 12/5/2008

Question
Does venison or all wildgame have to be cooked all the way done or can you cook your venison stakes like you would cook your beef stakes

Answer
Jesse:

Yes, you can cook them rare.  The only health risk of which I am aware posed by venison is the possible tainting by pesticides and herbicides.  You can find out if there is any risk of this for you particular area by contacting the fish and game department in you state.  This risk is only posed in areas that are heavily agricultural and only if waste grain (that grain left on the ground  during harvesting.  It can become tainted by post-harvest spraying of pre-emergent herbicides and pesticides) and only if these grains make up a substantial part of the deers diet in your area.  This warning usually only applies to organ meat, liver and heart.  Organs tend to concentrate it more.

Best check with your state agency.  For my part, I have only ever cooked my venison rare and none of my kids have two heads.

Keith