Random CWD Thoughts After Your Deer Is Down...

[Mike Belt]

You shoot a deer. It's down on the ground. Now what do you do if hunting in one of the hot counties if you plan on eating that deer?

As I understand it that deer has to be taken to one of the TWRA drop off points. The testing isn't done locally and the samples require transit. The actual testing takes about 2 weeks. If that sample proves positive then it is re-tested to make sure and the results made known to the agency and the hunter. All this requires the hunter to basically process his animal in the field, freeze it, and then sit on it while waiting to hear something. If the tests prove positive then it's to be disposed of and all the work done on it processing it is for nothing. What if it tests negative? Is it safe to eat? This is where I'm sort of lost.

A deer can be exposed to CWD and not show any signs of having it. In fact, after exposure it may take 4 months before tests finally show a positive and it may take up to 2 years before they show any physical signs. It's that unknown period I'm wondering about. If your deer test results indicate a negative testing is it truly negative? If your deer falls into that "been exposed just doesn't test positive yet" category does that mean it doesn't have CWD and is safe to eat or that it does in fact have the disease but it hasn't shown up in testing yet? Any input????

 

[megalomaniac]

Kill the deer, debone the meat and put in cooler. Take the head out of the field to the testing location. If you know how to do it, you can actually just remove the cervical lymph nodes and take them, but you'll still need proof of sex (head or genitalia). Always do the head AFTER the meat; leave any portions of the meat that may be contaminated with spinal fluid (spine shot).

Check the head, then freeze the meat. Wait 3-4 weeks to get test results back. If negative, process the meat. If positive, please don't throw in trash, best thing would be to bury at least 3-4 feet deep at the same farm the deer was killed on.

Most deer with CWD are asymptomatic. If the test is negative, the deer does NOT have CWD. period. It is fine to eat the meat. Just be smart and still avoid grinding up the major lymph nodes in the hindquarters with the rest of the meat.

 

[duckduck84]

I can tell you what I have done after researching and then killing 2 deer (in Hardeman) after we found out about CWD. Deer were shot, gutted while wearing gloves, taken to the processor, meat was processed, samples were sent to TWRA, meat was picked up, and is currently bagged separate from my other meat until I get the test results.

If it comes back negative, it gets eaten. If it comes back positive, I'll throw it away.

This is strictly my opinion, but CWD is not new, it is simply new here so it is now on everyone's mind and people fear what they don't understand. There is zero evidence that CWD transfers to humans, NONE. It is widely assumed that people have eaten CWD infected deer without their knowledge and there have been no cases of human transmission since it was discovered. I won't knowingly eat an infected deer as a precautionary measure, because hey, things can happen, but I think this is all being blown WAY out of proportion.

 

[WTM]

there is also a gland on the shoulder, buried in the piece of fat, where it meets the neck. dont cut through those either.

 

[Grnwing]

I'm waiting on test results for one buck and have the meat already processed and have eaten some of it already(before CWD was announced). I will most likely quarter the next deer and leave the skin on to age in the refrigerator while I wait for the test results, I live and hunt within the CWD zone. Not much has changed other than having to get each deer tested. Any positive deer will not get eaten.

 

[RUGER]

there is also a gland on the shoulder, buried in the piece of fat, where it meets the neck. dont cut through those either.

There is also one inside the hind quarters, in between two of the major muscles, near the bone.

 

[Andy S.]

From Mississippi's CWD Website:

 

[flyboy206]

Read somewhere in all the info on CWD that you will not get a true negative test result. You will get a positive or did not test positive.

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[WTM]

there is also a gland on the shoulder, buried in the piece of fat, where it meets the neck. dont cut through those either.

There is also one inside the hind quarters, in between two of the major muscles, near the bone.

yes mega covered those in his post. and for wild hog eaters there are 8 such glands on a pig.

 

[RUGER]

there is also a gland on the shoulder, buried in the piece of fat, where it meets the neck. dont cut through those either.

There is also one inside the hind quarters, in between two of the major muscles, near the bone.

yes mega covered those in his post. and for wild hog eaters there are 8 such glands on a pig.

My reading comprehension isn't very good I'm waiting on a new fishing rod to get here. Lol



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[BULL MOOSE]

First, it's probably time for a CWD post forum area.

Second, I would donate all of those hot zone deer to HFTH and let them sort it out.

Third, what a nightmare.

Fourth, lease prices should go down.

 

[grandjunctionhunter]

Newbie here. I've been following along this year as I just started hunting TN this year. Of course, the location is in the heart of CWD ground zero in TN, just outside Grand Junction.

I've read that you are supposed to drop off the heads of deer at the posted locations. If I shoot a buck late one afternoon, will I have to leave the head at one of the cooler locations? If so, how will I get it back? I had a decent buck in front of me Sunday afternoon, but the unknowns of what to do next made me hesitant to shoot. It seems some drop off locations are only open during certain hours, etc. I've read all of the material, but any clarity on how to handle shooting a buck, weekend versus during the week, would be greatly appreciated.

 

[duckduck84]

Newbie here. I've been following along this year as I just started hunting TN this year. Of course, the location is in the heart of CWD ground zero in TN, just outside Grand Junction.

I've read that you are supposed to drop off the heads of deer at the posted locations. If I shoot a buck late one afternoon, will I have to leave the head at one of the cooler locations? If so, how will I get it back? I had a decent buck in front of me Sunday afternoon, but the unknowns of what to do next made me hesitant to shoot. It seems some drop off locations are only open during certain hours, etc. I've read all of the material, but any clarity on how to handle shooting a buck, weekend versus during the week, would be greatly appreciated.

You are VERY close to where I hunt. I would recommend checking out Chamber's Processing just down the road on HWY 57. He is always there until at least 7 and lives next door. Great guy and he can tell you what his process would be to make sure you get the antlers, head, etc.

If you shoot it Monday through Friday just take to processor as normal and work out logistics with them. If you shoot Saturday or Sunday you simply drop by the testing location before 7pm, they will sample the deer, then you head on to the processor.

https://www.tn.gov/twra/hunting/cwd/hun ... tions.html

CHAMBERS DEER PROCESSING
19600 HWY. 57 MOSCOW, TN. 38057
(901) 877-3961

 

[Big Gun]

First, it's probably time for a CWD post forum area.

Second, I would donate all of those hot zone deer to HFTH and let them sort it out.

Third, what a nightmare.

Fourth, lease prices should go down.

I was told by a processor last Saturday that HFTH has stopped taking deer from the 3 counties.

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[southernhunter]

You shoot a deer. It's down on the ground. Now what do you do if hunting in one of the hot counties if you plan on eating that deer?

As I understand it that deer has to be taken to one of the TWRA drop off points. The testing isn't done locally and the samples require transit. The actual testing takes about 2 weeks. If that sample proves positive then it is re-tested to make sure and the results made known to the agency and the hunter. All this requires the hunter to basically process his animal in the field, freeze it, and then sit on it while waiting to hear something. If the tests prove positive then it's to be disposed of and all the work done on it processing it is for nothing. What if it tests negative? Is it safe to eat? This is where I'm sort of lost.

A deer can be exposed to CWD and not show any signs of having it. In fact, after exposure it may take 4 months before tests finally show a positive and it may take up to 2 years before they show any physical signs. It's that unknown period I'm wondering about. If your deer test results indicate a negative testing is it truly negative? If your deer falls into that "been exposed just doesn't test positive yet" category does that mean it doesn't have CWD and is safe to eat or that it does in fact have the disease but it hasn't shown up in testing yet? Any input????

great question imo, I'll follow it up by saying it makes me rethink deer hunting all together. I been hunting since I was 10 and I am 41 now. It's horrible to think it's to the point it may no longer be worth the risk or the hassle. In reality will I stop hunting ? At my age probably not will it push me more toward being a trophy hunter only sadly yes. Cwd will be yet another reason for the young generation to abandon the sport. I hate be to negative but personally I can't see it any different at this time.