TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT

[GRH]

Dang coyotes got to my brothers deer before we did. they ate half of the deer. We cut up the other half and were planning on eating it. A bunch of people are saying not to eat it. What are your thoughts on this?

[picksbigwagon]

I think if you trimmed off all the area the coyotes got to, you should be okay. Not sure how much meat you are going to have left though.........I would trim at least 1" off from the evidence of the coyote bites

[archerystud]

I agree with PBW

[bogwalker]

I would not take a chance on it.

[BucksnDucks]

Cut away from the bite marks, and you will be fine!

[BlueLundFishrman]

put it out for coyote bait and trap or shot 'em

[picksbigwagon]

definitely put the hide and bones back out in the same place and sit back and wait for them to come in....problem is, they will probably come back at night....

[vister]

i wouldn't touch the damaged side. i'd only cut up what i have to remove hide myself to get at

[PC's]

How did the yotes find it first?

[Boss Hogg]

No problem to eat it. Just like road kill, we just eat around the tire tracks.

[96trigger]

I would not take the chance. I have shot deer that I have let lay over night and had a few bites taken out, I just removed that quarter, but if half the deer were gone, I think I would leave it. Just my Opinion.

[paul pachowicz]

how long was it layin out there? If it was over nite I'd pass on the whole carcass. There's got to be more to this story.

[USPENAMC]

rabies transmitted through saliva?

[96trigger]

Yes, rabies is transferred by saliva, however, I am not sure if it can survive in a dead host, like a deer, however, I would not risk it.

[JacobMHD]

Do coyotes mark their "kill" by peeing on it?

[GRH]

My brother shot him on Sat oct 10th in the evening. Its a nice buck. We let him lay for two hours and started to track. we jumped him about 100 yards in so we let him lay overnight. It was plenty cold and snow on the ground. Found him early next morning. The meat we kept was from the side laying against the groung were the coyotes couldnt get at it. Iv'e never seen or heard a yote in that area, so we didnt think it would be a problem. Theyre in for some serious trouble once were done deer hunting.

[delcecchi]

You are going to cook the deer meat, right? That should take care of it.

[fivebucks]

I had the yotes take a small buck I arrowed in Dec. several years ago and I am still around. They took one hind qtr and I took the other and the backstraps. I never even thought of any disease being transmitted.

[paul pachowicz]

I guess I's ask myself why waste a tag on 1/2 or 1/4 of a deer? My opinion and MY opinion only...road kills and gnawed on carcasses??? Help yourself. But, again, that's my opinion. Nothing intened on opposing viewpoints.

[jeffreyd]

i tend to agree with paul, that this would be similar to a road kill. i would have a hard time putting a tag on it knowing that a coyote or wolf may have been consuming the other side. one does not know if they are rabid or carrying something else and that is why they went so quickly for a downed animal. i think i would ask dnr for an opinion, we know they are going to say that you have to tag it but i would ask what possible ill effects consuming the deer might have? i have a friend here in az that is a biologist for game and fish if you want me to email her and ask a hypothetical question? let me know jeff

[jeffreyd]

just an fyi, i emailed my friend as now my curiosity is up. i will let you know her answer when i hear back.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

Good for you,

Who is your friend??

I think I would also pass on it but if you knocked it down on the 10th I guess this a little old.

[Double D]

I see you guys are talking about not tagging it, but should you get to just go kill another deer? The hunter got his deer and recovered it. If it was too shot up can you just leave it lay and go get another one?

DD

[GRH]

Thanks jeffreyd

He Tagged the deer, We thought it was the ethical and legal thing to do. And he's getting it mounted. We actually got alot of meat off of the one good side, as it was a big deer.

[jeffreyd]

she is chief game branch biologist for the game and fish dept here in az, here reply to me was that there are several things that would play into keeping or not. if the meat was contaminated by urine or fecal matter, how cold was it that night, did it smell, how much was actually consumed, and again the thing she reiterated was the stink test. she said it would be to the hunters advantage to ensure that it is properly cooked to 160 degrees if it were kept. hope that helps, i do not ever think it was a question especially in my eyes whether to keep it as a tagged animal more as the safety part and consumption.