Eating RTA deer

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Ben23

Well-Known Member
Am I being overly cautious?

Setting...

Driving home on Saturday evening after a successful stalk, got a deer in the back of the truck, and on the drive home I pass a 'perfect' looking deer on the side of the road. I say perfect, i.e. it was a mature roe doe in perfect nick, clearly freshly hit, but I didn't see the impact or who did it. At this time of year she was also likely pregnant, so as I drive past I think (as I always do) 'such a damn shame. Poor thing. And such a waste.'. Except this time I realise I already have a dead deer in the back of the car, so what difference does 2 make? Saves the wastage. So I turn around and go check on her. She's definitely dead, but no outward signs of injury (other than tongue lolling out the side), no broken bones or obvious bleeding or gashes or anything else. No ear tag by a vet. She's clearly freshly hit, no flies or anything of course, fur immaculate, rigor mortis had set in, and was cool to the touch (was around 4/5c) but I thought 'sod it, I can always change my mind later on if required'. So I put her in the truck (separate from my earlier deer) and drove home.

An hour later when I get home, I gralloch, and blood is still warm, and carcass is steaming in the cool night air. Stars are out. It's been below 8c all day and around 2c at this point. Checking the lymph nodes, all good, lungs all good (I was worried about TB), liver is bust up (lacerations) I presumed from impact, but otherwise healthy looking. Lots of blood and blood clots of course when bleeding out at start of gralloch, but no blisters or anything else untoward.

So I let her hang overnight and joint up in the morning. Was going to butcher up tonight, but that little nagging voice in my head (as I've never picked up roadkill before of any kind for any purpose) is telling me I couldn't do the pre-mortem and therefore shouldn't eat it. Clearly DSC1 conscience back there making its money's worth ;)

I used the search bar and some useful info came up about RTA and dog food, but this question relates more to human consumption!

What are your thoughts? Am I being overly cautious? A dead deer is a dead deer? Or should I worry?

TIA
 
You need to ask yourself could there have been anything wrong with the deer before it got hit by the vehicle.
And could any illness have contributed to the reason why it was hit by a vehicle? That is the question You need to ask yourself.
If you stalk you shouldn't be short of venison.
 
terrier1 said:
You need to ask yourself could there have been anything wrong with the deer before it got hit by the vehicle.
And could any illness have contributed to the reason why it was hit by a vehicle? That is the question You need to ask yourself.
Click to expand...
Yes, that's exactly the question I have been asking myself...

Doe was indeed pregnant as predicted, and had more fat on than I've ever seen in a roe (but then again I don't shoot mature does at this time of year, so probably normal amounts when carrying a young one), so not a meagre wasting-away animal.

Did all the above checks as a post-mortem but other than asking myself the above questions, and also on this board as I'm doing, I'm not really sure what else there is to it!
 
bend23 said:
Did all the above checks as a post-mortem but other than asking myself the above questions, and also on this board as I'm doing, I'm not really sure what else there is to it!
Click to expand...
Can you be 100% that a Vet. has not been along and euthanised the deer?

Remote I know...and I know there are 'safeguards' in place but with my luck...

Unknown-33.webp
 
On doing my meat inspection course 20 plus years ago, one instructor said to the class before you put YOUR stamp on any carcasses as fit for human consumption. Ask yourself would you feed it to your children.
 
Not worth the risk at all, also, deer quite often get the “fight or flight” thing just before impact and can be full of adrenalin so it may taste odd…lactic acid production is reduced so it can mean the meat could be tough, high PH and lack taste.

Regards,
Gixer
 
Given it was still warm, passed the usual health checks and has signs of a car Collison, I'd eat it, not that I'm short of venison at the moment. Slow cooked stew or mince not pink, mind to be on the safe side in case something burst on the inside.

I once drove over a deer myself with two tyres (totally by accident) whilst on the way stalking and kept it. Tasted fine.
 
I suppose you have considered that someone may consider your actions as theft (or poaching?) as the deer belonged to the local council or highways?

Not wishing to spoil the taste or anything!
 
HunterMoore said:
I suppose you have considered that someone may consider your actions as theft (or poaching?) as the deer belonged to the local council or highways?

Not wishing to spoil the taste or anything!
Click to expand...
But who’s to notify the local road authority that a dead deer was removed from their land?
Two workers, a truck and somewhere to incinerate the body or bury it; at a guess £200 before you apply council rates for the job.
I think most Councils are glad if there are less call outs for them to attend.
 
potshotpat said:
. Ask yourself would you feed it to your children.
Click to expand...
My children seem to have grown up pretty healthy on that sort of thing.

Incidentally, roadkill used to feature on the menu when I was a kid, and my mother (who is 75 now) still can't resist picking stuff up. She waits until she's got a decent selection in the freezer, and then invites a bunch of her old biddy friends around for a game supper!
 
No intestines punctured which would mean leave it for the dog.
No bones broken (these animals are fairly maniable) again leave those parts for the dog.
All else seems good to go

If you watch a couple of videos from Scot Rea who does some excellent dishes from road kill rabbit and hare
 
I would be deep freezing it as well before use, and primarily use it for stews and mince etc.

Not planning on turning it into tartare!
 
Not far from me there was a Roe doe allegedly savaged by a dog that was euthanised by a vet/unknown and left in the field, they were gone before the farmer could speak to them.
If you ran it down or saw it struck that's a different matter but just at the side of the road your choice.
 
I would be very careful about eating roadkill or feeding it to the dog unless you actually saw it being killed. A friend once up a Roe buck that was hit by a car travelling ahead of him. He asked me help him gralloch.

It appeared pretty much undamaged, but as soon as opened it all the internal organs had pretty much exploded with gut content everywhere. And it stank and it was less than an hour dead.

Yes it seems an utter waste, but I don’t think hospital or vet bills are worth the risk.

If you going to eat roadkill. Cook it very well at a good temperature so all the bugs are well and truly killed.

And I would butcher by the gutless method and don’t even think about opening the abdominal cavity. Just take off the haunches and leave the rest.

It’s NOT the meat for a barbecue or slow cooker.
 
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