Thread: Worms

Almost all mammals have parasitic worms in them (probably didn’t want to hear that lol). This includes most human beings and the animals we hunt and farm. Pigs and fowl tend to have a higher parasite load. Even if you don’t see worms when you are butchering an animal they are there. It would be very rare indeed to have a worm load of absolute zero in a wild mammal. Don’t worry about it, this is the way it is and the way it has always been.

If not sure,toss it out.Go hunt some more in a different area.Gota look after yr familly and health.

Originally Posted by matto1234

Shot two hinds and a fawn for tucker in two different areas of the pureora yesterday. All animals were in poor condition and have intra muscular worms. Organs were clear but not too keen on worms. Whats the go?
Attachment 216582
Attachment 216584

Good photos, matto.
They look quite regularly spaced as if one goes to each rib which makes me think they are nerves.
Maybe its just cos they were so skinny from some other reason that you could see them clearly this time.
Perhaps been chased by pig dogs to a less favourable habitat like south of the bridge.
Intersting suggestion, @Tahr . Sounds like those are established in NZ. I wonder what is the snail host here ? Perhaps they are more numerous in Pureora due to long term rat / possum control. But I still dont think these particular ones were worms.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Elaphostrongylus cervi

Tissue worms (maybe).

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Good photos, matto.
They look quite regularly spaced as if one goes to each rib which makes me think they are nerves.
Maybe its just cos they were so skinny from some other reason that you could see them clearly this time.
Perhaps been chased by pig dogs to a less favourable habitat like south of the bridge.
Intersting suggestion, @Tahr . Sounds like those are established in NZ. I wonder what is the snail host here ? Perhaps they are more numerous in Pureora due to long term rat / possum control. But I still dont think these particular ones were worms.

Ive pulled plenty of animals out of there and this is definitely something uncommon. They were through the muscles and not connected to anything, could pull them out from one end and if i sliced through i could floss them in the holes

I have skinned a lot of deer and never seen that ever.
Send a photo into your vet and see what he reckons.

Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk

pulled out a backstrap from the same area 15/4/22 from a hind. Whipped the silver skin off and same thing

Originally Posted by matto1234

Attachment 218754Attachment 218755 pulled out a backstrap from the same area 15/4/22 from a hind. Whipped the silver skin off and same thing

Those are definately worms. normally in NZ the worms we see in tissue are actually a gut / intestinal parasite that has taken a wrong turn and migrated into tissue. In this case it is something different, and i am not sure exactly what.

well its been frozen for long enough,and will be cooked for long enough..... turn down the lights and hoe in.

These are not worms sorry to say it but you chucked out perfectly good venison

Originally Posted by Double tap

These are not worms sorry to say it but you chucked out perfectly good venison

What is it then

Originally Posted by matto1234

What is it then

What it actually is I’m not sure but
As stated at the start of this thread could be nerve fibres/ connective tissues
You will find this in all deer just not noticeable in animals in good condition carrying good fat layer
In the deer I shot in Australia that were all in good condition but with next to no fat this was visible in all of them
Also the way you skin the animal has an effect as pulling the skin off stretches the fibres out more giving a worm like appearance
Have just finished butchering a fallow buck the fibres on top of shoulder we’re not visible as of fat layer but some advisable around bottom shoulder and also in backsteak

I can not recall of any deer I have shot that did not have this visible to some point

This pic is just a random one off the net shows the same

matto1234 - I'd say worms too. Not an expert, but am familiar with most things biological.

Originally Posted by matto1234

Shot two hinds and a fawn for tucker in two different areas of the pureora yesterday. All animals were in poor condition and have intra muscular worms. Organs were clear but not too keen on worms. Whats the go?
Attachment 216582
Attachment 216584

yes skinned a lot of deer but never seen anything like that be neat to see what a vet has to say for the benefit of all of us reading this post in case we run into same seems some think worms others nerves ??? could we get a positive diagnosis be very keen to see one looks damn ugly

@ethos?