I hate leaving a deer overnight.I have done it twice, and both times I recovered the animal. But one of them the meat spoiled. I'll leave them out there if I absolutely have to, but I really hate doing it. I just want the guts out as soon as possible and the meat cooling. I always gut them where they fall too.

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I've left Deer over night no problem.Did have one,that the Arrow came out the Back leg,it laid on that Leg and blood settled there.I didn't trust it and just throwed the Ham away.

Was Elk hunting with a Guy.He killed one late,and decided to get it out the next morning.I don't know why the Guy did it but he packed it full of snow.Because it couldn't get air the meat soured.He would have been better off to just prop it open.

big rockpile

I was skeptical of this but did that very thing this weekend on 2 deer. The deer were shot on Thur evening and we recovered mid morning Fri. Although foxes (most likely) got to the ass end upon gutting we found the meat to be fine. Made me somewhat a beleiver that it can be done but I was on the other side of the fence till then.Now I'm on top of the fence but still not ready to jump all the way over.The temps were in the low 40's and maybe even in the high30's overnight.

I had one this year with temps in the 50's. She was fine. I woudn't have believed it.....but I found no ill effects when I butchered her the next morning.

"Something" had gotten to her a "little", too....but not even enough to get TO her entrails.

I have never had to do this and I hope I never will either. I just don't know if I could leave one out there all night. I am sure the Coyotes would get to it very fast around here. I might hesitate to eat the deer as well just because of the thought of it. I know I am a wuss, go ahead!

I hate leaving a deer overnight also,but I don't think the meat would be bad if the temps where in the mid-low 40's.,but around here the yotes would be the culprit.I have passed on several deer over the years,because it was too hot to leave the deer overnight if I wasn't able to make a speedy recovery.I would rather not take a shot at a deer than risk an unrecovered deer and have to wait until morning,we all know it is much harder to track a deer at night anyway.This happens way too many times people shoot a deer and can't find it then say I better back out then in the morning either the meat is bad or the yotes have gotton it ,either way it was a waste and in this instance then I agree with gmmat"I can't beleive I said that" that you should tag that deer because you did pull the trigger knowing light was fading and that it was possible you would not make a speedy recovery.

This tastes gamey...

Why do you think people say that? This is one of the reasons. Probably not unsafe, but nasty...

Jerky anyone?

Your probably right. Thanks for the info.