Wolf ate part of my deer!

[sled]

  I don't think I do deserve a tag and have not asked for one.  I have never had to leave one over night but turns out it was the wrong decision.
  I shot it and recovered itit.  The only thing missing is meat.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Heat is a spoiler. And it's amazing how much heat a hide will hold in, long after an animal is dead, even in freezing weather. A deer sized or larger animal will especially retain heat and start to spoil if it hasn't been opened up and had the innards removed, for a couple reasons. The first is mass. More mass, the longer heat is retained. Second, air circulation. The more air circulates in the chest and gut cavity, the faster heat is pulled from the body. Third when an animal dies, the process of spoiling or rotting begins immediately. Cooling reduces that process. But if the carcass stays warm and the spoiling process takes over, that process often creates it's own heat. Think of a compost pile. You will often see steam/heat coming from a compost pile if you dig into it on a frosty morning. Lastly, blood is the first thing that's going to spoil on a dead animal. One that was hit like this one has massive internal bleeding. That sits all night in a warm carcass, it can create a chain reaction that can spoil a lot of meat in a relatively short time.

[Smokepole]

Well I think you need a new butcher.  The wolf seemed to think it was o.k.  Bacteria doesn't just spread through the whole thing like he says.  Give me a break.

I've never skinned an animal until it has been aged.  Lots of us old timers hang our game with the skin on.  I kill them, gut them, cover the cavity and let them lay & cool overnight many times.  Had lots of rank stinking wound channels  -- busted shoulders that stink -- and I've never wasted an animal.  You trim that stuff out and cook up the good stuff.  A few times i let an animal hang too long in warm weather, because I got busy.  It was some of the best venison I ever had.  Been hunting deer for 42 years and never skinned a critter until it was aged and ready to butcher.  Hide is nature's game bag.  I've not heard of anyone getting poisoned from venison.

Sorry to hear them wolves are causing problems.  Suit yourself, but I'd be learning to butcher your own game or hiring a new guy. 

-Smokepole

[RadSav]

BTW - Congratulations on the deer!  Good shooting and nice tracking

[csaaphill]

guess grats on the deer so what'd you do with the deer leave at butchers?
I'd be for he cut the bad part off and went ahead and butchered it but who knows.
I question that the whole thing went rotten, but could of. ya report it as usual and wait till next year.
sorry to hear that and report the wolf as well.

[Kioti]

At least you got a little bit of meat out of it...I notice not all the back straps are gone...you still got a little bit left...bummer though.