nilgai rib preparation for smoking

[TackDriv3r]

I have been a fan of babyback ribs and I have smoked them in my Traeger for years. I remove the membrane first off the babybacks. I harvested a bull nilgai last week and I have two large racks of nilgai ribs that I want to finish off first to make room in the freezer. Do you remove the membrane if its easy like removing them off babybacks or is it tough? If you don't remove the membrane, do you smoke them longer? Any recipes for smoking nilgai ribs? Thanks guys if you have any recommendations.

 

[RB II]

Unlike pork ribs or even beef ribs, Nilgai is much more lean. As always with game, don't over cook. Honestly, the membrane is on the "non-meat" side of the bones so removal isn't necessary. Competition cooks remove it for the "just in case" scenario that a judge will get a tough piece of it.
Other than those comments, cook like you would beef ribs. IME, smoke time/temp is not related to the membrane on any meat. I would smoke somewhere below 250 (225 is a good number) and use same seasoning/prep process as beef ribs. I don't like to wrap my ribs, so I cook at a lower temp than say a brisket. Helps them to not dry out or over cook/burn. Cooking bone side down helps with the burning also. One thing I also do with ribs that I don't do with brisket is make/use a mop sauce. Applying/drizzling over the meat (I don't actually mop the meat surface as that can remove the rub.) liberally about once or twice an hour. I "spritz" all meats that I smoke, just do ribs differently.
I hunt Nilgai in S. Tx regularly. Excellent table fare.

 

[Taylorbok]

IME the thin ribs that come on game are super hard to get tender and keep moist,
Personally I'd either Sous Vide them and finish on a grill,
or quickly brown them on a grill and then finish in the crock pot with some sauce.

 

[TackDriv3r]

Excellent feedback, the ribs are curved, and the middle area of the ribs will be a few inches off the rack, do you recommend I cut it in half with a sawzall or leave as is? Only thing I don't like is the gritty pieces the saw leaves behind. What about wrapping it since its lean?