Eating town deer?

[lawrencedale]

I'm considering using my general deer license to harvest one of our resident deer. I live in the center of a residential part of a Small city (population 70,000) in the mountain west. They seem to have a mites or some kind of skin irritation.

Are these deer good eating? I'm sure the discussions in the archives somewhere.

 

[jspradley]

Are you sure they arent just shedding? They can look like they have mange when they are shedding. Even if so the meat should be fine

 

[lawrencedale]

Are you sure they arent just shedding? They can look like they have mange when they are shedding. Even if so the meat should be fine

Yes, probably shedding. It's my first time having a front row seat to the deer's year! thanks

A point a friend made that I'm trying to route out is diet. Do city deer eating ornamentals in the neighborhood and drinking from the small irrigation canal behind our house exposed to higher level of chemicals.
I first thought they may experience more stress, but natural predators are just replaced by cars, dogs, and people.

 

[mtnrunner260]

Dont know if it affects the meat in any way but there have been deer with exotic lice that will cause them to rub until they create bare spots on their hides.
Might want to ask fish and game if there have been any cases locally

 

[Huckleberry Hound]

70k isnt really a small city. Id be more concerned with property lines / recovery issues after the shot.

 

[16Bore]

We have a game manangement program in a city of 100k. All of the meat harvested goes to a FDA approved processor and is utilized.

They do everything at night and once they’ve left an area, all that’s left are a few blood stains on the ground. It’s a pretty serious business. Nothing but 223 head shots. Vendor told me that it’s tough chaotic work, not the “fun” that folks imagine it is.

 

[jspradley]

We have a game manangement program in a city of 100k. All of the meat harvested goes to a FDA approved processor and is utilized.

They do everything at night and once they’ve left an area, all that’s left are a few blood stains on the ground. It’s a pretty serious business. Nothing but 223 head shots. Vendor told me that it’s tough chaotic work, not the “fun” that folks imagine it is.

I listened to a podcast with a dude who did that for years...said it's horrible. Not hunting at all, just killing, not that it's supposed to be hunting.

 

[Shupe88]

I have taken several city deer and they have always tasted fine. Just soak them in cold water to get all the blood out of the meat and it’s tasty as always! And I have literally watched deer eat meat from table scraps that I threw out in the back yard. No joke! Wouldn’t believe it but I watched it with my own eyes.


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[Desk Jockey]

70k isnt really a small city. Id be more concerned with property lines / recovery issues after the shot.

Don’t overlook recovery. Bad idea to send a wounded animal bounding across peoples property.

Apart from that, suburban deer probably aren’t getting more of a dose of chemicals than deer that get into ag fileds and ag run off in water. I have down a couple and they tasted fine.

 

[fezmomasher]

Never had any issues and that’s a bunch of what we hunt here down south. Do a quick google of toxoplasmosis though. My understanding is that urban deer are more likely to carry it from exposure to cats/feral cats and freezing at a certain temp for a certain period of time can remove the risk.


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[snuzzo29]

We have a game manangement program in a city of 100k. All of the meat harvested goes to a FDA approved processor and is utilized.

They do everything at night and once they’ve left an area, all that’s left are a few blood stains on the ground. It’s a pretty serious business. Nothing but 223 head shots. Vendor told me that it’s tough chaotic work, not the “fun” that folks imagine it is.

I worked a deer management program one winter. It's not fun. It was done in the middle of winter at night, so it was cold and dark with very long hours.

 

[wildwilderness]

What city? Mule deer?

 

[snuzzo29]

Whitetail in the midwest.