Found after 2 days, meat worth anything?

[jamesfromseattle]

Give the anthropological papers on rotten meat a quick google. Not saying you should eat it if it's rotten, but red meat is surprisingly durable.

If it passes the smell test, I'd eat it.

[Doublelunger]

Trust your nose. The side that was on the ground will go bad first. You might get lucky with saving some meat from the side that was up.

[gutsnthegrass]

Trust your nose. The side that was on the ground will go bad first. You might get lucky with saving some meat from the side that was up.

This, and I’ve found that if it’s sour, there will be some discoloration in the deepest joints (hips). If it passes the sniff test, you might be ok. The side he was laying on would have held the most heat.

[BA Mongor]

Bad shots happen and animals are sometimes lost. What I don't understand is, why would anybody who found their animal not start cutting into it immediately to see what can be salvaged, versus going to a forum and asking for input about the meat being good? I read he didn't want to pack it out if it was bad, I get that, and it's actually pretty stand-up to tag the animal after finding it (2) days later, but most everybody can tell when something is rotting.

Interesting

[MADMAX]

Well ?

Did you salvage anything ?

[Fidelk]

Well ?

Did you salvage anything ?

MADMAX......with our digestive tracts, we would have eaten all of it.....right?

[JWBINX]

Cut out one back strap and check it out... The parts that spoil first are going to have more bone... It keeps the heat in... The front shoulders first... Ribs... Neck... Rear quarters... But 40's for 48 hours, it may actually only be dead 24 hours... 

Good advice there!!

[MADMAX]

Well ?

Did you salvage anything ?

MADMAX......with our digestive tracts, we would have eaten all of it.....right?

There’s no “We”

[Pete112288]

No good meat. I thought the up side front quarter and a little other meat was good. But by the time I drove home the game bags were green, like bright neon green. Took the meat out and it looked like someone injected it all with green dye.

[MADMAX]

No good meat. I thought the up side front quarter and a little other meat was good. But by the time I drove home the game bags were green, like bright neon green. Took the meat out and it looked like someone injected it all with green dye.

That’s a shame but kudos for tagging it

[addicted1]

Bummer, those ferns can really hide animals. Hate it when deer die in them if the blood trail is bad, you won’t see them until you are stand in on top of them.

[lewy]

Bummer but it does happen, even when you do everything to avoid making a marginal shot. Good news is, it happens less with experiences like this one, you will learn from it and be even better in the future.

[NWBREW]

Yeah, two days is too long. That’s too bad.  I killed a bull once right towards the end of shooting light. Dropped down in the twenties during the night. Found the bull first thing in the morning and lost both hind quarters and the neck.

[lewy]

Yeah it doesn't take long for an elk to sour. To much mass, bone structure and hide.

[Bob33]

Elk have remarkable insulation.

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/12/08/montana-photographer-captures-daring-elk-rescue-near-bozeman/