How long does it take for an animal to spoil?
 

Our archery season here in Colorado starts next weekend and the temps. can fluctuate pretty dramatically. If in theory you thought you had a gut shot and waited the 8 hrs. or more, then when you recovered the animal you found out that it had probably died many, many hours previous in say 70 degree weather could you safely eat the meat? What is an indicator that it isn't okay to eat?

RE: How long does it take for an animal to spoil?
 

most of the time the smell will tell you.even when it even starts to go bad it has a different smell.it I though it was bad,I would not eat it.better safe than sorry.
if the temp is as you say in the 70's it doesnt take long to spoil if not gutted. to me any thing above th mid 40's is a bad temp. to have an ungutted deer in for over a few hrs. (3). thats just me.
in Fla. where I hunt,we get them gutted and on Ica,asap. like you say gut shot,we try to wait a short while and track,if we jump it then we wait again and try all over.some may do different,but in hot weather you can't wait to long, do you got a set of horns and thats all.

RE: How long does it take for an animal to spoil?
 

Here in MS, I definitely would not eat it if its been over a few hours.....Ethics is one thing, but food borne illness is another.