very thin ... I would say lost 1/2 his muscle? I thought it was a doe, when I saw it walking by and limping, I frankly didn't care what it was as I had a tag for both ... killed it and when I walked up to it it was a buck that shed his antlers ... I am guessing because of the leg wound??? So the leg was shot weeks ago and it stunk bad .. the buck was very thin ...when I gutted him out, there was no funky odor ...will the meat be ok? I was gonna process the deer for the mission....HELP!
the only odor was from the leg that was obviously infected ... the lower part was hanging by the skin...so why was he so skinny? That is what I am worried about..
With a bad wheel, I'm guessing he didn't walk around or eat unless necessary. Add in the cold weather/deep snow, he's bound to shed some lb's. I wouldn't be afraid to eat him if everything else smelled/looked ok.
I shot a buck like that one and didn't eat the meat. Same scenario, had been wounded by a hunter and his front leg was busted/infected. It stunk pretty bad and I didn't want to take any chances. I'm not sure if it mattered or not, but I wasn't about to risk it.
I wouldn't eat it myself. I'm not taking that chance. Man once you figured out to hit 'em your a killing machine!
PT, If the infection is localized, then go for it. Cut around the infected area. Thorough cooking will kill any bacteria... Congrats man!
First, congrats on another deer. Personally, if the deer had infection and looked emaciated, I would probably not eat the meat. The deers blood may have been full of infection. ??? I know we all hate to waste venison, but it is not a chance I would be willing to take unless someone that knows a lot more about it than I do gives it the okay. A deer with three legs can easily fend for itself, if it was that skinny, there is something more going on there.
I've eaten a deer that had 2 broken front legs, looked to be that way for about a week. I also ate a deer that had an odd infected wound on its ribcage. Both were fine, no issues. The wound on the ribcage stunk so bad I couldnt stand it. But once cut off hte rest of the deer smelled normal.
Great job on another deer!!! Your season will be one not forgotten for a long time. I am on the fence about the meat. I would probably not eat it. Like some have stated, you can have a three legged deer that is still fairly healthy. If the deer was that run down and skinny it would throw up a red flag in my mind. Either way you should just be happy knowing that you ended the suffering the animal was going through. That alone would put my mind at ease.
Fletch .. those are my thoughts to a tee ....... I hung him up and cut off the shoulder ... the break was at the "knee" the only funky area was below the shot, which I cut off in the field, and about 3" above it. The rest of the shoulder seemed completely normal ...since I remove that leg, there is no funky smell .... I dunno... maybe he was rutting hard and that wound added to things .... He was walking fine sans the limp ... I still hunted to the back of the field and figured I would go just inside the corner and sit for a few hours....I had just gotten to my spot and I poured myself some coffee ...look up and here he comes ... looked for a place to put my cup ...waited for him toget behind a tree...laid the cup down..when I raised my weapon on the way up he saw me and stopped ..so he was acting normal ....
