How Healthy Is Deer Meat?

The Native American Indians hunted deer before the settlers arrived in America. Henry Schoolcraft, in his 1853 book, "Information Respecting the History, Conditions and Prospects of the Indian," indicates that the deer was one of the simplest animals to hunt due to the deer's "fatal curiosity" and tendency to stop and look at noises. If you enjoy the taste and texture of beef, you may find deer meat a healthy alternative or addition to beef.

Availability

Deer meat, commonly referred to as "venison," comes from different varieties of deer found throughout the United States. Each state has different hunting regulations and seasons. Some deer-hunting establishments will ship meat through the Internet, but the primary way to obtain deer meat is from a hunter, friend or some restaurants. If you see deer meat in a grocery store, it is generally imported, as all deer meat sold on a retail level must be USDA-inspected.

Fat and Calories

Deer meat has less fat and more muscle than most cuts of beef, causing the deer meat to have less fat and calories per ounce. A 3 oz. roasted piece of deer meat has 134 calories and 2.71 g fats, or 18 percent of its total calories. A similar size piece of beef, trimmed to 1/8-inch fat has 236 calories and 15 g fat, or 57 percent fat content. The deer meat has only 1.1 g saturated fat, while the beef has 6.1 g. Limiting your intake of saturated fats through eating deer meat rather than beef may help decrease your incidence of heart disease or high cholesterol.

Protein

Protein, found in some plants and all animal products, helps you build muscle and gives you energy. Roasted deer meat has 25.7 g protein per 3 oz. piece. If you are a man, you need 56 g protein a day; a woman needs 46 g. Eating a small, palm-sized piece of deer meat fulfills a substantial part of your daily protein requirement. In comparison, beef has a slightly smaller protein content, with a 3-oz. piece containing 22.6 g protein. Plant foods, such as kidney beans, have 15.4 g per cup, and one-half of a breast of roasted chicken has 26.7 g protein.

Health Considerations

Substituting deer meat for beef saves you fat, calories and still provides adequate protein. When preparing the deer meat, cut off any fat you see, as fresh deer fat turns rancid quickly. Freeze or dry fresh meat using safe-handling procedures such as keeping the meat cold until handling and disinfecting all surfaces. To save calories and fat, marinate your deer meat in flavored sauces with small amounts of added olive or canola oil to help the deer meat stay moist during the cooking process. Grill, roast or bake the deer meat to serve as main dish entrees. You can use a meat grinder to grind deer meat for hamburgers or meatballs.