A week or so ago I saw a nice 8 point walking around with a little bit of a limp. He didn't seem to bad so I let him walk. Well yesterday I saw the same guy again but he was barely putting any weight on that leg at all and was noticeably slower when walking. I have already decided to put him down next time I see him but I got to wondering...

Is there a risk of the meat being tainted with infection at this point? Just discard the quarter that is damaged? What do yall think?

Over the last 40 years of chasing deer i have seen anything from a buck that had an arrow sticking out of its hip that was dogging a doe like nothing was wrong, my brother killed that deer the next day and there was horrible infection and puss oozing out of the wound, for sure didnt eat that deer although he looked amd certainly acted fine. I shot a doe in mississippi years ago that couldnt get put of her bed, upon further inspection she had a btoken antler tine in her haunch and the odor coming from a live devaying deer was unforgettable.
This led to a discussion between our hunting party and the point was brought up that all of us would refuse a grade a angusangus beef if we knew beyond a shadoe of a doubt the animal was wounded, sickly and infected. So my personal rule since that hunt has been no consumption of injured/sickly animals. My venison ends up in deep freezers that feed my adult sons and daughters and my 5 precious grandsons.but i guess its strictly a judgement call with each animal

Forgive the fatfinger typing, im old, blind but at least my hearing is terrible

He might have infection running through his whole body. Since he is already losing weight per your view just put him down.

Way too many healthy animals out there to take a chance on one with questionable meat. But you wont know until you get them on the ground and check.

Agreed. Not worth the risk IMO.