Thread: Inspecting deer organs

After reading though ryans post on removing a throat etc who does or how many do a inspection on organs like this?
posted by @Moa Hunter 10) Inspect lungs/wind pipe , diaphragm, liver, for disease cyst's, TB lesions. Check liver for Fluke if taking it

I thought the same thing while gutting a deer the other day. Gave it a quick once-over... For newbie/townies like me though, it would be good to have a photo catalogue of what to look for. I have no idea. If there's no old thread to that effect, maybe people could post some pics here? I've also seen a few posts along the lines of "Should I worry about this?" with the typical response "It's just a gland, all deer have 'em". SO maybe some pics of what's okay would also be good.

Thanks in advance, and please forgive me if I've hijacked your thread!

Manual on meat inspection for developing countries

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I always have a quick look at liver, kidneys and lungs (though usually lungs are pretty well buggered anyway) and keep an eye open for anything cyst-like on the meat (flaps etc).

Common practice in the UK and part of Deer Stalking Certificate (DSC) training.

Just give everything a quick once over.

OK to be fear for me it depends on where am hunting. 99.9% of my animals are healthy animals and i have shot the the old sickly animal over the years of my hunting i haven't taken any meat from. A number of those sick animals had been shot and going rotten or maggots on them or hung up in a fence where legs have been cut of.
If i see a sick animal i do try and put it down. I do treat my bush animals different to farm hunting.

Having a good watch of the animal before you pull the trigger, is it limping? Feeding normally? Licking itself?

Ok you often dont have the time, but if you do..... i give the organs a look if i open them up but latly just taken legs and backsteaks off so hsvent looked

None of this has ever worried me much. Have never inspected the insides much except for when I was farming in a TB area. Disposed of a TB pig once that had lesions.
If I ate deer offal (and I don't) I would give the liver a once over and biff it if it looked dodgy but more than likely still keep the meat.

Otherwise I just judge their general health when they are dead and if they are too skinny I boot them over a bank. I can only recount that ever happening a few times.

In NZ, if cooked Im not aware of anything that can harm you anyway?

Its a bit like projectile choice. We worry too much.

Originally Posted by Tahr

None of this has ever worried me much. Have never inspected the insides much except for when I was farming in a TB area. Disposed of a TB pig once that had lesions.
If I ate deer offal (and I don't) I would give the liver a once over and biff it if it looked dodgy but more than likely still keep the meat.

Otherwise I just judge their general health when they are dead and if they are too skinny I boot them over a bank. I can only recount that ever happening a few times.

In NZ, if cooked Im not aware of anything that can harm you anyway?

Its a bit like projectile choice. We worry too much.

Part of the inspection is to check if the animal has Leptospiroses or Johnes Disease. If either is suspected then a very good wash of hands and arms is required to remove infectious Spirokeets and Bacteria. Cooking will kill both but it is too late by then because they are contracted from urine and faeces. Be careful when gutting not to contaminate hands or carcase with either. Ecoli and Campylabacta might also be present in the intestinal tract with some bad strains around now. Do not rupture the bladder and be sure to tie off the anus before pulling back through the pelvic opening

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Part of the inspection is to check if the animal has Leptospiroses or Johnes Disease. If either is suspected then a very good wash of hands and arms is required to remove infectious Spirokeets and Bacteria. Cooking will kill both but it is too late by then because they are contracted from urine and faeces. Be careful when gutting not to contaminate hands or carcase with either. Ecoli and Campylabacta might also be present in the intestinal tract with some bad strains around now. Do not rupture the bladder and be sure to tie off the anus before pulling back through the pelvic opening

Goodness. I have been oblivious to that for 55 years of hunting. How high is the risk actually and what is the incidence of someone being infected from a deer I wonder. Can humans contract Johnes?

Originally Posted by Tahr

Goodness. I have been oblivious to that for 55 years of hunting. How high is the risk actually and what is the incidence of someone being infected from a deer I wonder. Can humans contract Johnes?

Johnes =chrons/ulcerative colitis

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I have had Crohn's for several years now and at no time have I ever been asked by a health professional if I have ever gutted an animal...not often one is able to wash one's hands and arms for several hours after gutting an animal and never mind the number of times one has poured the contents of the bladder over one's Swanni.

Johns disease in animals does not transfer to humans. Leptospirosis does move to humans, rural vets and meat workers used to be commonly infected years ago before better hygiene practices were implemented in these industries over here.

Every time I throw away a beautiful fresh healthy Fallow Deer liver its with regret. They just look so very edible. Sometimes Ill take one and eat it with onions, mashed potatoe, butter, mushroom sauce, and red cabbage. Im now thinking they would make a wonderfull fresh liver sausage which must be made, cooked and eaten on the same day. Next time..