Parasites in Deer Meat
10-17-2004, 08:53 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Kansas
Posts: 141
Parasites in Deer Meat
I originially posted this on the bowhunting site but this forum is probably more appropriate. I shot a doe last night and while butchering this morning I found small white to yellow grubs (about 3 mm X 1 mm) through out the meat over the entire body of the deer. The grubs were all over, and down into the muscle tissue. They had the apperance similar to how yellow grub looks in fish meat. I don't know the diagnosis and was hoping someone else did. Any thoughts would be apprecited.
10-17-2004, 09:55 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eureka, MO
Posts: 3,703
RE: Parasites in Deer Meat
Well I know you can eat those small worms in fish meat. The kentuckies we catch on the river have them and they have been determined to be safe. I'm not sure if they are the same thing in your deer meat. Maybe a deer processer could give you an answer.
10-18-2004, 06:42 AM
#3
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Cumming, Ga.
Posts: 32
RE: Parasites in Deer Meat
Sounds like some kind of bot fly or blowfly maggots. I've never heard of them in deer, but they afflict cattle and horses through open wounds. Maybe a wildlife bilogist would be a good source to consult, or a veterinarian. I'd toss that carcass if I just butchered a new-killed dear and found maggots in it.
10-19-2004, 04:23 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Slower Lower Delaware 1st State
Posts: 1,776
RE: Parasites in Deer Meat
I shot a Doe 3 years ago and found long thin pin like worms around the heart area. I was told by F&W biologist it was ok to eat. Can't remember what he called them. Very common in deer. However I have never seen anything like grubs on or in a deer.
cbanman - How long did you hang that freekin deer - Hee Hee.
cbanman - How long did you hang that freekin deer - Hee Hee.
10-19-2004, 09:18 PM
#8
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Kansas
Posts: 141
RE: Parasites in Deer Meat
She was a big healthy doe. She had lots of fat and a young one with her as well. I didn't suspect any problems until I was butchering. I stated "grubs" but that was a guess at best. I don't know what I was seeing in the muscle tissue. Grubs, cysts, some type of parasite?? I can't say for sure. I do believe thought that it was a parasite of some sort, maybe something not too common since nobody seems to have the anwser. I did call around to some processing shops and one butcher claimed he had seen it once but didn't know exactly what it was. He thought it was some sort of blood born parasite. Anyhow, I'm not one to chance it and I discarded the deer.
