Me and a couple buddies found a doe shot in the head the other day. We called the game warden and they asked us if we wanted the deer. I opened it up and the stomach was fine, it didnt blow out and it was cold(10-27* for 2 days straight) I dressed it and brought it home and hosed it down and it doesnt smell at all. Is this meat any good?

its possible the meat is still good, no idea how long the deer had been there, was the blood already dried, was she stiff.if the meat didn't have a smell to it, it should be ok, good luck

i wouldent of hosed the deer off, water supports bactirea. i try to avoid draggin deer threw creeks and mud holes.. the meat is prolly still good, skin em and smell the meat.. i wouldent let em hang for no longer than you have to.

should be fine i hung my buck for 5 days before we finaly got a chance to cut it up and the meat was fine. we had about the same temperatures as you said.

usually deer can hang for a week if the temperature never gets above freezing, the only problem would be if the fact it wasn't field dressed kept it warm enough to start spoiling. I would think with highs of 27 it should have cooled off real fast, so if it dosen't smell bad go for it.

Boy, I bet the gamewardens had a good laugh over that one with coffee. They hear it all the time....."We found this dead deer....." Nyuck nyuck Nyuck. As far as the meat, if it's bad you'd know it the minute you gutted her if not sooner. It would also start to be slimy or greenish when you peel off the hide. Who would shoot a deer in the head, other than a night hunter I wonder? Must have gotten scared off orsomething. You don't even have doe tagsdo you?

I would say go for it but keep this in the back of your mind


WHEN IN DOUBT THROW IT OUT

Sounds like the meat should be fine. Make sure to test the tenderloins first. If they taste good, then the rest will be ok. Did you have to tag it? Usually you don't hear about game wardens giving carcasses away. In Idaho I had a similar situation. Supposed to be against thelaw, but I thinksome game wardens would rather see the meat put to good use. Good Luck!!

that cool weather should have keep it OK.smell it when you cut and if it smell OK then I would process it.

in Fl. the wardens give deer to people all the time.usually the person that hits it , or finds it.if they don't want it, we have several organations that will take it and pass it to needey families.

enjoy it.

dont know...the only thing that worries me is it wasnt field dressed and who knows how long it been there........

david...why do you say that about headshots? id have to beg to differ....i made a nice headshot on a big doe on monday....i knew i could...and it was the only shot offered by that doe...she was with 5 or 6 average sized/small does...she was the COW...stopped them 50yds away and she was behind a tree facing me barely visible...poked her head out and looked away from me...nothing but trees and woods behind her and her head...put the crosshairs between her ears and she was down and gone...dead before she hit the ground.......im not a night hunter...it was noon!..i guess most guys dont head shoot deer.....but i think its a pretty dang nice shot if you can make it and thats what you have to take....i knew no doubt that my bullet would strike right between her ears where i put it..