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Post by cajunlady87 on Sept 25, 2012 15:49:58 GMT -7
You may set traps but for some reason can't check them as soon as you like. You may come across roadkill but didn't see the animal bite the dust to know how fresh it is.
Whether it's roadkill or a trapped animal, what do you look for to let you know if the meat is still edible?
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Post by graf on Sept 25, 2012 16:25:33 GMT -7
The shake rule, take a leg (or carcass if small animal)of the animal pick it up shake it it the meat stays on the bone you are good to go. I also do a smell and check the meat for irregularities.
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Post by wtrfwlr on Sept 25, 2012 16:54:02 GMT -7
You may set traps but for some reason can't check them as soon as you like. You may come across roadkill but didn't see the animal bite the dust to know how fresh it is. Whether it's roadkill or a trapped animal, what do you look for to let you know if the meat is still edible? First off don't set traps if there is ANY chance you cannot check those traps. If something happens where you can't have someone else do it. That being said there are things to keep in mind with already dead animals. The first thing is the temperature, if it is even warm you only have a matter of hours to get that animal clean before it becomes rancid. If it is cold nights and cool days, first look at the eyes. If the eyes are still full of fluid and firm that's good, if they are sunken in the sockets or gone that's bad. Next tug on some fur. If the hair pulls out easily then it is "slipping" and the hide has gone rancid and so has the meat. If the hair is nice and tight and the eyes still look good then it MAY be alright. Next check for maggots around the nose, mouth and anus, that's where they will form first. That doesn't mean it's gone bad yet but it may help tell you how long it has been there, flies lay eggs very quickly. If all that looks Ok then skin a bit and slice off some flesh and give it a good smell, is it rotten smelling? If not fry up a little piece and give it a taste, not swallow, does it taste Ok? If so you should have yourself some good roadkill. This is all based on nothing more than my own experience so take it for what it's worth. I will say that I have dined on some right fine venison steaks that I picked up off the side of the highway though! |
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Post by swamprat1 on Sept 25, 2012 17:48:05 GMT -7
+1 on what wtrfwlr said. If its summer or even fairly warm, I won't touch it unless I see it killed.
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Post by xwing on Sept 25, 2012 17:55:20 GMT -7
if the eyes are glased over or "hazy" lookin...let it pass....Wtrflr dead on...  |
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Post by offtrail on Sept 25, 2012 18:01:15 GMT -7
if the eyes are glased over or "hazy" lookin...let it pass....Wtrflr dead on... I think we all have had that look from time to time ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by offtrail on Sept 25, 2012 18:07:14 GMT -7
You can always use the buddy test,that's right invite a buddy over then feed it to him  Having a cook out tomorrow who's coming ;D |
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Post by wtrfwlr on Sept 25, 2012 18:07:29 GMT -7
I think we all have had that look from time to time ;D ;D ;D[/quote] Now that's funny right there, I don't care where you're from!  |
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Post by woodscustom on Sept 25, 2012 18:39:23 GMT -7
If you eat it and you end up getting deathly sick and die, you shouldn't have eaten it.
I would give it the ol "Sniff Test" first. If it smells rotten, there's a 99.99% chance it is.
WC
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Post by xwing on Sept 26, 2012 3:04:54 GMT -7
I'd its green or purplish don't eat it either. ...
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Post by wtrfwlr on Sept 26, 2012 3:33:43 GMT -7
Another good point xwing. Meat can also go bad in the freezer or refidgerator. In the freezer it will usually "freezer burn" which means it dries out all of the moisture from the meat. But not in a good way like dehydrating does. That meat will also be off in color either a real light brown or even grey color. Another thing is that many people cannot smell all that well to be able to tell if meat has gone bad, my Mom is one of those, she just can't smell it. A sign is if the meat feels oily or greasy. Of course meat is going to feel slick because it's raw and wet but it should not feel like it has oil on it. If it does have a little oily feel to it rinse it well in cold running water and pat it dry somewhat if it stills has a slick feel to it it is probably past useable. Of course be careful with all meats but pay special attention to pork. Always make sure that pork is thoroughly cooked. One last thing, birds and poultry good bad faster than anything. Any of my wild birds, ducks, turkeys, quail ect are always cleaned and iced down asap. Great topic CajunLady!  |
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Post by pathwinder14 on Sept 26, 2012 5:22:49 GMT -7
+1 wtrfwlr
If the meat is questionable, crack open the bones and check the bone marrow. The bones preserve the marrow for several days after the rest of the carcass is starting to turn rancid.
Humans were scavengers before they were hunter/gatherers and would come upon a carcass of some other predator's kill. They would crack opn the long bones and eat the marrow (mostly fat).
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Post by cajunlady87 on Sept 26, 2012 9:27:55 GMT -7
Great topic CajunLady! Thanks BJ. Many thanks to all for the input to answer my question. I could've looked this up online but I wanted to hear it from someone I know and trust more. |
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Post by huntinguy on Sept 26, 2012 11:33:15 GMT -7
Just give it a thorough boiling... It'll be fine.
That said I'm usually pretty picky since I can be. If you are hungry, let'er boil.
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Post by cajunlady87 on Sept 26, 2012 14:08:24 GMT -7
Thanks to all who responded with their great answers giving me much needed info. You're the best! |
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Having a cook out tomorrow who's coming 
