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Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
#8059393
11/22/20 01:02 AM
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 8
Justinjj1
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 8 |
I'm hunting in northeast Texas today and it was a pretty warm morning about 70 degrees. On my way back to the truck about 8:30 from the stand after not seeing anything, I spooked a decent 8 point in waist high grass, but he stopped long enough for me to get a good shot. I thought I hit him, but immediately after I saw him take off across the pasture a couple hundred yards away obviously unharmed. I walked all through the woods that I seen him go into and didn't see any blood trail. I thought I missed.
A couple hours later about 11:30-12:00, something prompted me to go back and search the area that I initially shot at more thoroughly and sure enough I found the deer I had shot dead with a pretty close to perfect shot placement. What I guess happened is there were two bucks together that looked almost similar. I didn't see the second buck when I shot, so when I shot the first one the other one took off bolting across the pasture (and I had mistaken him for the one I hit)
So, I went ahead and gutted him and took him to the processor as fast I could but he was pretty stiff and had flies all over at this point. I'm wondering if anyone here has had experience with not being able to gut a deer for that long. Obviously the warm weather didn't help today, but hopefully my meat will still be decent. Thoughts?
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059410
11/22/20 01:21 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 9,952
LFD2037
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 9,952 |
I wouldn't eat it. I'm sure you'll have others say they would but no way I would.
R.I.P. CPO Matt Mills-(DEVGRU)- You will NEVER be forgotten! 10-25-75 / 8-6-11 *K.I.A.*
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059414
11/22/20 01:29 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,408
rickt300
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,408 |
If it had not bloated and was still stiff when I cleaned it the meat is probably good. Ask the processor.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059418
11/22/20 01:30 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 26,548
JCB
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 26,548 |
My opinion is I would eat it. I would have very little concern unless the shot punched the gut. Even then as long as it’s cooked thoroughly it should be fine. Meat handlers are pros at spotting spoiled meat. If they don’t call you then I say you are good.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059421
11/22/20 01:32 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,287
scalebuster
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,287 |
I’ll bet it will be ok. There’s only one way to find out.
Depending on your processor, someone else may get to enjoy him.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059510
11/22/20 03:10 AM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 446
Brother Phil
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 446 |
I think it would be OK. I have ate a deer that I shot the evening before, and found the next day. The weather was cold, so not the same situation. I think there would be an off smell if the deer had started to spoil.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059517
11/22/20 03:17 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,252
Texas Dan
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,252 |
I thought I hit him, but immediately after I saw him take off across the pasture a couple hundred yards away obviously unharmed. I walked all through the woods that I seen him go into and didn't see any blood trail. I thought I missed. I've heard it said if you haven't looked for a deer for at least an hour, you haven't looked at all.
Last edited by Texas Dan; 11/22/20 03:18 AM.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Brother Phil]
#8059535
11/22/20 03:25 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 9,952
LFD2037
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 9,952 |
I think it would be OK. I have ate a deer that I shot the evening before, and found the next day. The weather was cold, so not the same situation. I think there would be an off smell if the deer had started to spoil. That is the game changer. 70° & 3.5 hours, I'll pass. TDH says @ room temp. meat should never be on a counter longer than 3 hours. In the dirt w/flies on it makes it that much worse.
R.I.P. CPO Matt Mills-(DEVGRU)- You will NEVER be forgotten! 10-25-75 / 8-6-11 *K.I.A.*
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059569
11/22/20 03:51 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,428
TLew
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,428 |
I'd give it a shot. I agree with LFD, and my smoking rule is meat has to hit 140 degrees within 4-4.5 hours. That said, this meat was warmer than room temperature and was cooling. Depending on how long it took you to dress it, I regularly see processors not touching the meat until 3-4 hours after the kill
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059570
11/22/20 03:55 AM
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 513
kman2017
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 513 |
Your nose is a pretty good indicator. If it smelled abnormally bad when you cleaned it, stay away, but otherwise it is probably good to eat.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059571
11/22/20 03:59 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,217
shooterwalter
Veteran Tracker
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,217 |
If butcher says nothing, and meat feels and smells right when thawed then cook it and eat it.
www.poetryshootingclub.comGun Dog Training, Flighty Quail Guided/Unguided Quail Hunting Group Events/Parties 700 Yard Range CLOSE TO DALLAS Take a youth shooting 214-728-2755 By appointment always and you shoot in private.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059646
11/22/20 06:25 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 12,125
ntxtrapper
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 12,125 |
This is why I don't take deer to a processor. Who knows who will get or have it mixed in with their meat.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059651
11/22/20 09:14 AM
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Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 151
Dimitri
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 151 |
If your bullet didn't rupture the stomach or intestines then I think your meat will be fine.
If it did rupture the stomach/intestines then I think your meat may have a strong smell of "gut" after marinating in the juices for 3.5hours. I don't think it's likely to make you ill but it will certainly be off-putting.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059673
11/22/20 11:55 AM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,150
Hudbone
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Joined: Jul 2019
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Rules of animal slaughter in a commercial facility do not allow for carcasses to lay, unclearened at 70 degrees for anywhere near three hours. There is a reason.
The suggestion to take it to a facility because someone else might end up with is either tongue in cheek or not well thought out.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059698
11/22/20 01:21 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10,455
DQ Kid
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Posts: 10,455 |
No refrigeration in the 1800s and not many of those hunters died from eating their kill. Have at it and don't look back...
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059743
11/22/20 02:04 PM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,150
Hudbone
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059756
11/22/20 02:18 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 44
BrownBagSpecial
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 44 |
Your nose will tell you if its ok or not. I’ve seen multiple lease hunters leave the guts in a deer from 8am until after dark. Lol not my suggestion but ive seen it. And some janky processors will leave them on the floor for hours until they get to um
BrownBagSpecial!
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059758
11/22/20 02:20 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,846
Greg Z
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,846 |
Nope... take it to the processor and have him grind it into sausage and back strap and bring it to me for proper disposal.
Greg Ziemer Sewell Lexus 214-597-6006 Life's short... Enjoy the ride!
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059771
11/22/20 02:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Erathkid
THF Celebrity
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498 |
It's probably fine. Sniff test will tell the tale.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059792
11/22/20 02:46 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,071
sprigsss
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,071 |
Nothing wrong with that deer at all.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8059802
11/22/20 02:51 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,240
Erny
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,240 |
If the meat smells ok it’s good.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Hudbone]
#8059825
11/22/20 03:02 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,243
Biscuit
THF Celebrity
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,243 |
Rules of animal slaughter in a commercial facility do not allow for carcasses to lay, unclearened at 70 degrees for anywhere near three hours. There is a reason.
The suggestion to take it to a facility because someone else might end up with is either tongue in cheek or not well thought out.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: DQ Kid]
#8060048
11/22/20 05:53 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 949
MoTex
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 949 |
Keep in mind in three hours the body hasn’t cooled down with hide on it. You don’t know when it expired , when the cool down started. If it cooled down and started warming up that’s a different story. Get it on ice or to processor, it will be fine.
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8060123
11/22/20 06:46 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 15,962
Jimbo1
THF Celebrity
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Posts: 15,962 |
This happened a few years ago with a deer my wife shot in the morning around 8:30 - 9am. It was in the pen when she shot. We looked and found not a drop of blood. Went back to camp and had breakfast. She took a nap and I was rethinking her shot so I went back out. Found the buck 50yds away in the thick mesquites. Called the wife and said I was coming back to pick her up. Got back, tagged the deer and then I gutted it. About 3 hrs from shot to gutting. She had hit it in the neck. No bad smell. I put a bag of ice in the cavity and proceeded to the processor. By this time it was in the 60's. Got the meat back a few weeks later and it cooked up fine.
FJB - Lets Go Brandon BBB - Bring Back Better Awake - Not Woke!
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Re: Didn't find deer until 3 and half hours later. Is the meat ruined?
[Re: Justinjj1]
#8060240
11/22/20 08:35 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,019
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,019 |
The meat is fine. Eat it.
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