Is this deer safe to eat?

By Grant Woods,

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← Grant's Answers — Venison Processing
Question
Grant,

First, let me say I continue to pray for your dad. May God bless him.

Now my question. I recently harvested a doe that had a 10 inch arrow shaft and broadhead in it. It ran right along the left side of the spine. Tissue had grown around it and encased it. Gunky stuff oozed out of the arrow shaft when I removed it. Can the deer be eaten? Like would hindquarters be safe? Or just good buzzard food.

Thanks.

Jeff May

Jeff,

Wow – that’s an interesting find!  If the tissue around the wound appeared and smelled normal, then I wouldn’t be afraid to eat most of the deer. I’d trim the meat from around the wound and save the rest!  

Thanks for sharing that picture!

Enjoy creation,

grant

December 10, 2015