With their rich and succulent flavor, wild game meats make a tasty alternative to run-of-the-mill domestic meats from the corner market. However, to maximize enjoyment of wild game meats, a few guidelines should be followed for storage and preparation.

Wild game meats must be properly preserved and cared for in order to ensure quality and safety. Freezing is the most popular method of storing wild game meats. Wild game meats should be frozen while still fresh. Tightly wrap the wild game meats in a moisture resistant material specifically intended for freezing, such as plastic freezer bags, getting as much air out as possible.

Freeze the wild game meats and store at temperatures of 0ºF or lower until ready to use. Check out your state's guidelines for consumption of wild game meats, since many states require all wild game meats to be eaten before the next hunting season begins.

Fresh wild game meats should not be frozen for more than eight months, and cured or seasoned meats shouldn't spend more than four months in frozen storage. Because wild game meats are more likely to contain large amounts of bacteria, they should be thawed in the microwave or refrigerator, not at room temperature. Other techniques of preserving wild game meats are drying, curing, smoking, corning, jerkying and canning.

Because these animals have had plenty of exercise in the wild, their muscles are strong and lean. The natural fat of wild game meats is usually promptly removed since it can quickly become rancid. These conditions can make the wild game meats dry. Therefore, when cooking the wild game meats, it is best to add fat in order to produce a juicier, tastier dish.

Butter, bacon fat, vegetable fat and salt pork can all be rubbed on the wild game meats to add moisture. Also, poking holes in the wild game meats and inserting pieces of bacon can add flavor and moisture. Consider cooking methods that tend to soften meat, such as braising, stewing or marinating the wild game meats beforehand.

For those who enjoy dining on wild game meats but aren't able to hunt for their own, the internet is a great resource. There are a wide variety of wild game meats on the market, including alligator, boar, buffalo, elk, ostrich, partridge, pheasant, quail, rabbit, turtle, venison and more.