As far as eating the meat goes, everything I've seen and what I heard from the DNR biologist says that you can eat it, it shouldn't bother humans. But truthfully, I've never been that hungry. Eating something that died from a disease isn't natural. If the yotes and the buzzards aren't interested, ME NEITHER!!! I'm telling you, even while that deer was still alive, it gave off a pretty foul smell. I am certain Emeril's Southwest Essence couldn't even cover it up.