Good Morning All!

I have harvested two bucks in recent hunts that I have some questions about, or wonder if anyone else has encountered similar circumstances.

Both of the bucks were probably close to three years of age. When harvested their general behavior seemed normal and gave no indication that there might be anything wrong with them other than being "unlucky" at that particular moment.

During field dressing both of these bucks we discovered several "nodules"
that did not look like they were normal parts of the bucks intestinal anatomy. To describe the "nodules", this is what we saw.

All along the spine of both bucks there were very dark round looking growths that strongly resembled "rabbit turds". The growths, or "nodules" were embedded in the fat and attached to the muscle tissues of both animals. Additionally, there were other nodules scattered throughout the internal organs of both deer. One of the animals had absolutely no muscule, or fat, attached to the interior portion of the spinal column and the loins seemed somewhat small considering the "normal" size and development of the deer in general.

The bucks were harvested from the same timber at approximately the same time of the year, in two separate years. So, they probably had a very similiar if not the same diet. Both were harvested in southern Iowa.

My questions: 1) Have any other hunters encountered something like this; 2) If so did you process the meat; 3) What could be either the source or cause of the nodules.

I would appreciate your comments and may be able to provide additional details if needed.

Thanks!