Photo by Capt. Nate Skinner

Fans will go wild for these axis deer sliders

Exotic game animals, such as axis deer, present the perfect opportunity for hunters to continue participating in the sport they love after fall and winter hunting seasons come to an end. This opens the door for things in the kitchen to take on an exotic form as well, and the results are more than worth the efforts associated with trying something new.

There’s nothing more Texan and Southern than slowly cooked or smoked meat, and the same goes for this axis shoulder recipe. Keeping the wild game moist while the smoke from a mesquite fire or smoldering coals does its job will transform it into a juicy, tender hunk of deliciousness.

Once it’s done, carve the shoulder meat into bite-sized chunks, smother it with barbecue sauce and load it in between two sweet Hawaiian buns to enjoy an out-of-this-world slider. Pair the handheld entrée with an ice-cold beer and try not to eat more than two. I think you’ll find the temptation to be more than you can handle.

Hand-Carved Raspberry Chipotle Axis Sliders

Photo by Capt. Nate Skinner

1 bone-in axis deer shoulder

36 ounces raspberry chipotle-flavored barbecue sauce

Kosher salt

Coarse ground pepper

Sweet Hawaiian slider buns

Season all sides of the axis shoulder with a homemade mixture of kosher salt and coarse ground pepper (20 percent salt, 80 percent pepper). Place on the grill or barbecue pit and smoke or cook for 3 hours at 225 F.

After smoking or cooking the shoulder meat for 3 hours, generously smother the meat with raspberry chipotle-
flavored barbecue sauce. Wrap it tightly in foil. Add more coals or wood to the grill or pit to increase the temperature to 350 F and cook for an additional 30 minutes.

Remove the shoulder from the grill. Unwrap the axis deer shoulder and carve it into small, bite-sized chunks. Put several pieces of carved shoulder meat between two sweet Hawaiian slider buns. Add barbecue sauce, serve with ice cold beer and devour.