Fall and winter usually signal the start of hunting season. There are varieties of wild game animals such as deer, turkeys, squirrel, duck, rabbit and even fish that are shot or caught every year. Some cooks wonder how to cook wild meat to bring out the best flavors while keeping the meat tender. There are many wild game seasonings to help get rid of the gamey taste of most meat. Take a look at our cooking gift baskets that contain a variety of our spice blends.

Here are a few tips for preparing and cooking your catch:

• Remove the bones and fat before cooking.
• Thawing meat should be done in the refrigerator and not on the counter.
• Marinate wild game meat for a day or more for more flavor and tenderness.
• Do not overcook lean, wild game because it dries out easily.
• Cooking wild game slowly over a barbeque will produce a tender, flavorful meat.
• Birds, fish and other animals can be dredged in a batter and fried.
• Grilling game birds is difficult unless you add bacon strips for moisture.

Most cooks have a secret way to prepare and cook their favorite dish. Dry cooking seasonings and rubs are ideal for slow barbequing depending on what part of the country you live. Some parts of the U.S. prefer a wet sauce or other easy cooking spices.

D.J. Hoch's Durn Good Seasonings makes outstanding mustards, hot sauces, spice blends and marinades for all of your cooking needs. They use only the finest ingredients in everything they make. The company's president designed the spicy steak marinades with a hint of cumin for a wide variety of meats. Once you try it, the marinade will become a family staple to be used at every barbeque. Additionally, the cooking seasonings are perfect for sharpening the flavor of all your dishes from casseroles and soups to vegetables and sauces.

D.J. Hoch's Durn Good Seasonings is a member of the Goodness Grows in North Carolina program, which highlights quality products that are grown, produced and manufactured in N.C. You can purchase their products like wild game seasonings and hot sauces online or through a variety of grocery stores and specialty shops throughout N.C. Gift baskets are available for spreading that Durn Good Carolina flavor to friends and family. You can choose from a variety of seasonings, steak marinades and hot sauces for your gift basket.