I have this doe coming to my feeder faithfully. These pics are from August. I am not sure what is wrong with this deer. At first I thought it might be wounds from a predator, but I also can't tell if it has a skin condition. The animal looks poor as the ribs are defined and abdomen sunken in. My dad has more recent pics of this deer and the skin has healed and the animal looks better, but still poor in comparison to the other deer in the area. So here are my questions 1) What do you think is wrong/happened to this deer and 2) Is this animal safe to shoot/eat? Thanks for your input.

Just getting rid of her Summer Red. That spot on her neck could be an infected thorn, barbed wire, or even a wasp sting. I bet she's perfectly fine, and very tasty.

Lice. Bugs are bad this year

That knot on her neck looks like the cause of the issue. As long as the meat looks healthy you should be fine, just make sure you cook it throughly. I must also say, I am a very unqualified source. You may check with a vet or wildlife biologist for a better opinion.

Wouldn't have thought much of it till the last pic. I think going the veet route is good advise.

mange? yuck

Not sure that I have ever seen this. Was thinking maybe she got into a bunch of bees and got stung a bunch.

Don't know, but I think I'd wait on a better look one to eat.

bulge in the neck could be a parasite.

mange.

I would guess she got hit with a car but I don't know.

deer acne?

I've seen that before. Chupacabra got to her, but she must have gotten away before he finished her off.

I don't know but it don't look good.

I've seen a similar thing on a deer and asked my vet. He said it looked like mange to him.

As far as the bump...She just has a lump in her throat.

What county is this?

Chupa bite!

looks like she took a drink at the wrong snake hole...cotton mouth got her

It could be from any viper though...looks exactly like hemotoxin goin to work...and with the deer getting better i would guess copperhead or cottom mouth

Thanks guys for the input. This is Angelina county. I'm still not sure about harvesting this animal. May have to let her wait until next year and see if she continues to improve.

Sarcoptic mange with advanced fly irritation.

+1. Also known as scabies, sarcoptic mange would be my bet as well. If this is true, it is also infectious to people and other mammals. Wear gloves when you skin the animal; the meat should be OK however.

X2

Mange has taken the hair off and left the skin open to fly bites and may even lay eggs in the dead tissue. Maggots my start to hatch in it....while not pleaseing to the eye or stomach the maggots would actually eat out the dead tissue and clean the wound out.

The poor condition is relatively normal as well for that time of year.

The question I have is will it affect her getting "dates" this fall?

Mercy kill jesus thats nasty looking!!!