Is the meat still good?
12-18-2011, 07:50 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 50
Is the meat still good?
i kiled a 7 point buck a couple days ago and it took about 1 and a half hour before i was able to go and actually get the deer, (it was about 55* outside) when i got to it, it didnt really smell but the body was still kind warm and it was slightly stiff but not yet bloated, i quickly rinsed the meat off with cold water and put it in the freezer, ive never let a deer sit for that long before field dressing it so i was wondering if the meat was still good, (it was a heart/lung shot)... i would rather not poison myself lol any advise?
12-19-2011, 09:06 AM
#5
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: On an Island in Vermont
Posts: 22,589
The only one I ever lost was one I shot through the guts with a bow and didn't find it dead until the next day and it was in the 60 degree range. It was bloated up and the guts were all loose. You could tell it had turned. I still butchered it and tried to eat it but finally had to toss it out. I could taste that smell.
12-19-2011, 03:07 PM
#7
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019
The meat was fine in that short period of time, but you did one thing that is not kosher. After gutting and then butchering the deer, you really should have let the meat cool completely in a cooler with ice, in a frig., etc., BEFORE putting it in the freezer. Doing what you did will probably not cause illness, but you may get a taste that makes you think the meat is spoiled. This advice is from a retired State Inspector (me) of over 30 years.
12-19-2011, 04:52 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Virginia / West Virginia
Posts: 4,906
The meat was fine in that short period of time, but you did one thing that is not kosher. After gutting and then butchering the deer, you really should have let the meat cool completely in a cooler with ice, in a frig., etc., BEFORE putting it in the freezer. Doing what you did will probably not cause illness, but you may get a taste that makes you think the meat is spoiled. This advice is from a retired State Inspector (me) of over 30 years.
The only bad tasting deer meat I've ever had was handled exactly that way. ALWAYS let them cool out, I usually keep mine on ice in a cooler for several days minimum.
12-21-2011, 02:04 PM
#10
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 25,116
You'll be fine
2 years ago my partner got us a 4 point buck..liver shot..It took us 2 hours to get him out of the woods..We gutted him at the check station and then drove 2 more hours to get home.We split the deer up.It was tasty and I'm still alive .{ -:
This is FL..temps were in 60s
2 years ago my partner got us a 4 point buck..liver shot..It took us 2 hours to get him out of the woods..We gutted him at the check station and then drove 2 more hours to get home.We split the deer up.It was tasty and I'm still alive .{ -:
This is FL..temps were in 60s