Why do so many deer expire with their tongues sticking out? I have never been given a real answer. The one opinion that makes the most sense to me is that it's muscular, that the tongue is a muscle that is usually conciously held in the mouth, it is longer than a humans for licking, etc., and when death occurs, the muscle relaxes and sticks out.

Hmmmmmm

Onelast act of defiance[8D]?

Sorry, your answer makes more sense.

PK

I seen poeple killed in accidents and shot that had their tongues hangin out also

My wife asks the same question every time I have one hanging.I just tell her that's what dead deer do.Your answer sounds right,though.

Matt your answer sounds correct.

And you better stick that tongue back in pronto, before you take the picture, because once rigor mortis sets in, those jaws are locked. Rigor mortis starts in the smallest muscles first, hence the quick lock-up.

Not sure, but it might be that when they are running, they have their mouths open to get as much air as possible. They need to do this because they are lossing air from the hole you put in their lungs. Then when they die, their heads hit the ground, the tongues pop out, and they aren't alive to pull them back in. Just a guess though.

You are correct on your theory. Deers tongues are longer than ours. When they are are dead there is no control on keeping it inside the mouth.

Many replies to one simple question. although also many sides to look from...

I always wondered that and I too have aske dmy husband and his reply, they just do...lol

I will sound more educaed when I tell him your answer...lol