Will you eat it?

[Blacktail Sniper]

Mtman, did you process the meat from that cow? 

If you did, how was it? 

Did you notice any odd taste or smells while it was cooking?

How about general quality, was it tougher than "normal" or stringy or anything that made if different from any other elk you have cooked?

Did you or your family have any issues after eating any of the meat, like upset stomaches, or such?

Thanks for sharing the picture, it really shows a good example of what folks have been describing.

[throttlejocky20]

A buddy shot one in the Winston and the whole thing stunk. While trying to process the meat the closer to the bone the more it stunk. The bones were actually a greenish color. The meat was a complete wast and he was not able to get another tag. If i know the animal had hoof rot i would pass for sure.

[Buzz2401]

A buddy shot one in the Winston and the whole thing stunk. While trying to process the meat the closer to the bone the more it stunk. The bones were actually a greenish color. The meat was a complete wast and he was not able to get another tag. If i know the animal had hoof rot i would pass for sure.

That sounds like bone sour and has nothing to do with hoof rot. 

[Curly]

Bone sour shouldn't happen immediately after the kill.

[Buzz2401]

Who said anything about right after kill, he said he was processing it.  We don't know the facts about his kill but it sounds kust like bone sour.  I have seen bone sour start in as little as 8 hours after a gut shot kill that wasn't found till the next morning even though it was 26 degrees out.

[mtman]

I was ohnestly  to scared to eat it. I did everything except put it in my mouth. I shot a cow a few years before this with hoof wrought and it did taste just fine. This one was just so far gone and did have a smell to it. IT had less muscle then some deer I have shot. When My wife shot it, it didn't even try to walk away at 20 ft it just was standing there watching us. I told her to just shot it when she asked what was wrong. I don't know if It was right to shoot it and then not eat it after doing my best on seeing if it was safe to eat. ( but I still can sleep at night Knowing I tryed)

[yorketransport]

My buddy shot one a few years ago that had one hoof which was pretty bad. He wanted to leave it, so I told him that I'd be happy to take the meat and "donate" some money to cover the cost of butchering. When skinning it we just cut the infected leg off at the knee. The rest of the meat smelled and looked good so it all went into the truck. We brought it to the meat shop and asked them about it. They all said that if it looks good and smells good, not to worry too much about it. I ended up with a little over 200# of meat off of that critter and I can promise you that it was all put to good use!

I certainly wouldn't target an infected animal, but I wouldn't walk away from a downed animal just because it had the rot.

Andrew

[Curly]

Who said anything about right after kill, he said he was processing it.  We don't know the facts about his kill but it sounds kust like bone sour.  I have seen bone sour start in as little as 8 hours after a gut shot kill that wasn't found till the next morning even though it was 26 degrees out.

Well hopefully throttlejocky will clarify; I guess I was assuming he knows his way around butchering game.  I've read stories about elk so far gone that they stunk when the hunter went up to them.  But you are right it does sound like bone sour.  I've also herd stories of a couple elk being put out of their misery when they could barely hold their head up......I would imagine that those elk might have a fowl smell to their meat?

[throttlejocky20]

He shot the elk and had it back at his house and skinned in less than 6 hours, hung over night (Temp mid 40's) in a light weight game bag. Started to process the next morning. I have heard of bone sour before but in this little of time frame do you think thats  really the issue. Might be but i have never heard of it that fast.

[pianoman9701]

I'd consider eating it if one of the WDFW biologists ate some in front of me that I knew came from an affected animal. I doubt they would, however. They're only commitment to it's safety as a food product is to convince us it's OK so we'll continue buying tags. They'll tell you that atrazine has no ill effects on mammals, too. I've yet to see one of them spray their sandwich with it before lunch. And the thought that they're going to give this meat to food banks is alarming. Although, I suppose one method to eliminate poverty is to eliminate the poor.

[Jonathan_S]

I've read stories about elk so far gone that they stunk when the hunter went up to them. 

   I've never been close to an elk that didn't stink.

[Big6bull]

My elk did not have hoof rot but it was really skinny and obviously something wrong. I got 25 lbs of weird tasting meat back from the butcher. Butcher said it was worste he has ever seen and wdfw have reissued tags for less. We have been eating it and havnt been sick or anything but I am pretty unsure about the whole thing. Wdfw was not helpful and they made me never want to support them ever again...

[Carnivore]

I've eaten a couple elk that had it and had no issues at all....that I know of.  Neither one seemed to have any signs of problems other that one hoof on each animal and once legs were removed at the knee, there was no difference from any other elk I have seen or eaten.  Both were delicious!  There was no sign that the animals had the disease before the shot either, but archery hunting for elk you don't always have time to look that closely...take a shot when it presents one.

[Mudman]

Eat it!?  Its funny now they tell us to cut off legs and leave em in woods but its ok to eat.  Uh, ok, um, WHAT?  They dont know diddly yet.

[bobcat]

Funny, everyone criticizing the WDFW for telling us the meat is safe to eat. If you don't believe them, and you don't feel the meat is safe, then don't hunt elk in SW Washington.

Everything in life is not the government's fault.