Need opinion on what did this
 

Here is a pic of a deer I got recently. Could not see this when I shot, but when my son drug it out of the brush, he said "Dad, it's cut open." Spread the front legs and found this wound with infection leaking out. My guess was coyotes but I have never seen this before.

I have no idea, does not look good. Maybe it cut itself jumping over a fence? Just an idea

Perhaps a broadhead grazed it awhile back

Both at probable culprets, that is a bad bacterial infection. You saved it a realy painful winter.

grazzing bullet shot that has been festering for a while? The fence would make sense too

Any of the above. I once shot a deer at dusk, and when I got to it, it had a broken off antler, and where the antler was broken at the base, the scalp was torn down to the skull, and then it ribboned a strip of flesh off all the way down the neck, and across the brisket. It was gross. I couldn't believe this deer was walking around basically scalped. The wound was all scanned over as well. I assumed he got caught up in a fence, freaked out, and ripped it off before freeing himself....tough animals.

Tough mofo's.................... that's for sure !

My best guess is it got caught on barbed wire while hopping a fence. Bullet graze or coyotes doesn't quite look right.

Whatever did it, I don''t believe I would be consuming the meat from that animal!

One other idea
 

Another idea: Fibromitosis that went unchecked.

Check this site: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/...osis/index.asp

coyotes typically eat from the rear forward...looks like a missed shot/possibly barbed wire..

Aliens
 

chupacobra;)

+1

barbed wire


+1

Thanks for all the replies. There are several barbed wire fences in the area, I didn't go that route because it didn't catch the legs but I guess the chest might hang down far enough that it caught without the legs catching. Didn't eat it, looked way too infected. Coyotes did eat it though, went back a week later and only bones and hide left.

I sure wouldn't trust eating. Sure looks gross.

Broadhead or Bullet. I shot a deer once that had almost the entire shaft enveloped in a pus sack. Someone shot it while facing them and the arrow went left of center through the armpit area and stayed under the hide. It was badly infected and stunk terribly. It did seem to be moving with no problems but I'm sure it would have died from the infection.
Amazing tough critters.

Deer are amazing animals. I grazed a doe one yr on the belly. Took me 3 hrs tracking and finally caught up to her. I did make a long wound kinda like someone cut her with a knife. So I would say all sound like it could have caused the wound. Glad you got it.

Any number of things that might cut it open, as has been stated. From bullet, to broandhead, to fence. If it were a coyote, you likely wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to take a shot at it. And there would have been additional scaring from bite wounds, around the neck or hind quarters.