Not to argue, but I don't think you've ever observed a commercial operation if you say this. Very little mess there and there's no open paunch or contents of the intestines on the meat. I worked for several different commercial operations and know better. Now I have seen some pretty nasty abcesses.

As you said though, wash it as soon as you can and it will be fine.

Rinse and eat. You're worst case scenario is to cut out the damaged portion and keep the rest.

Now an abcess is a different story. Not because any more of the meat is spoiled (it's actually the same principle) but the thought of the puss makes me ooogie. LOL.

Brings new meaning to the phrase.. "this tastes like sh!t".. LOL..

That is what water is for. Cut out the part where the bullet did the damage and wash the rest.

I skip the step 1. I hang by the hind legs then skin and quarter. You lose the loins but no big deal. I have never really gut shot one but my 2 sons have. I shot a buck one time that spun on the shot and the bullet entered and exited the ribs on the ame side. That was weird. Strange things can happen especially when you hit bone.

x3

You are right about weird things happening when you hit bone. My wife's grandfather shot a little 6pt on Monday in the neck with a .243. Bullet hit the bone, travelled at a right angle through the backstrap and blew up a ham.

any contamination that happens will be taken care of by cooking, just don't cross contaminate.