Killed lots of deer, elk, caribou, bear a few moose in rut and never experienced a huge change in meat texture flavor if i executed a drt shot, got off hide, cutt off tarsals and not taint meat, cooled down meat quickly allowed to age. I can tell the difference(minimal) between young and old animal.
Now a late season rutted out buck or bull with very low fat content can tell difference but still good eating
