THE GREAT OUTDOORS With only a handful of hunts left to close before the big game season is over, most hunters are kicking back and enjoying the fresh meat they harvested during this past big hunting season.

From deer and elk to antelope, moose, bison and black bear, most hunters have a secret recipe or two up their sleeve for their favorite meat. Whether the recipe is a family tradition or something you made up one evening, it's hard to find a hunter who doesn't have a specific way of preparing their wild game that makes even the pickiest of eaters want a bite.

However, if you're looking to improve your skills at cooking wild game or simply want to branch out, take a few minutes to read through this list of tried-and-true wild game dishes. (Click the headers for the full recipe.)

Adobo sauce

Adobo sauce is popular in Mexican and Filipino cuisine, but it's just as good right here in the American West. Hundreds of variations of this sauce litter the internet, though they all usually have the following common ingredients:

• Apple cider vinegar
• 1 clove garlic
• Soy sauce
• Butter
• Black pepper

Combine the above ingredients in a medium-sized pot and cut up your meat into bite-sized pieces. Pour the meat into the sauce and bring to a boil, then fry the meat in a cast iron skillet with butter and garlic. You can serve it alone, over rice, or anything else that pairs well with meat. This is a tangy, rich sauce that brings out a meat's natural flavors.

Korean barbecue

Korean barbecue's popularity is rising in the United States, and for good reason. The common ingredients include:

• Soy sauce
• Sesame oil
• Garlic
• Brown sugar
• Rice wine
• Black pepper
• Fresh kiwi

To spice up your Korean barbecue, don't be afraid to add your favorite hot chile peppers. This is a great recipe to help mask the gamey taste of deer and antelope if you have picky eaters in the family. There are also plenty of dry rub recipes available online if you prefer those over a thicker sauce.

Gumbo

Who doesn't love a good pot of gumbo? This famous Cajun recipe is one of the best ways to prepare meat like bear, which has a strong taste if you don't cut and freeze the meat properly. Gumbo's also great for bear meat because the meat is already cooked thoroughly, the biggest concern with using bear meat in any dish.

Gumbo typically contains the following ingredients:

• Spicy sausage (in this case, bear sausage)
• Butter
• Onions
• Green peppers
• Parsley
• Garlic
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Basil
• Worcestershire sauce
• Stewed tomatoes
• Tomato sauce
• Chicken broth

Gumbo is usually served over rice, and the combination of all the above ingredients is another great way to introduce wary eaters to wild game.

Preparing wild game is another aspect of why hunting appeals to so many sportsmen and women in modern America. Knowing where your food came from, how it was killed, harvested, packaged and prepared is a comforting feeling. And there's something about a fresh deer or elk roast that just tastes better than beef bought from the store.

Do you have a favorite wild game recipe? Have you tried any of the ones on this list? Let us know in the comments.