Author Topic: Trying to learn about road killed deer's food value (Read 728 times)

Questor · « **on:** August 27, 2009, 05:46:14 PM »

I've got to work a lot this November (actually October thru January is crunch time this year), so deer season ain't happening for me this year.

I've driven by many a road killed deer that looked pretty good.

What are the realities of collecting road killed whitetails, and how can I choose good deer to take home and butcher? Do you need a permit to take the deer?

It just seems like such a waste to leave them there, especially if they're obviously freshly dead.

What equipment should I carry in my car to efficiently collect a road kill?

I'm not joking. I'm out of venison and I really want some, but can't hunt for it this year.

(I saw a beauty last Monday. Oh man, I wanted that deer. It got me to thinking about this.)

LONGTOM · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2009, 05:58:06 PM »

Unless you are on the scene pretty quickly I would pass on most road kill.
The meat will most likely be pretty blood shot.
What looks like a good animal will look much different once you get the hide off.
Brused meat, broken bones, maybe dirt or gravel.
Don't know where you live but here in VA it is against the law to take a road kill unless you have been issued a permit from some form of law enforcement officer.
I know, it is a shame to let it go to waste.
Some states will take it to feed to the hungry but a few have stopped for fear of disease.
Also, don't get caught cutting the rack off of a dead buck along the road.
That is a big NO NO here in VA anyway.

Like I said, if it is a very fresh kill you could save some of it but first contact the law.

One other course would be to ask one of your hunting friends to get a deer for you.
Nothing wrong with that.
I get asked every year if I can help someone out.
I am glad to do it!

LONGTOM

dukkillr · « **Reply #2 on:** August 27, 2009, 06:25:48 PM »

Illegal here

ms · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2009, 12:38:26 AM »

If it cold out pick it up as long as you know around when the deer was hit. Let's say you go to work then come out and there a deer on the road that wasn't there on your way to work I have pick them up only if it cold out . Yes you will need a permit and I carry a knife and a saw in my truck. Pick your self up a tarp to put the deer on.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2009, 01:44:08 AM »

In Minnesota you need to have a permit to pick up a road killed deer. Usually it will be issued by a sheriffs deputy. Some counties will even call you if you want a road killed deer, and they have a fresh one.

myronman3 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 28, 2009, 01:46:10 AM »

yup...contact the local sherriffs office and tell them you are interested in any road killed deer that isnt mangled. when one is hit, they will give you a call. just make sure you let them know it has to be freshly killed. lol.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #6 on:** August 28, 2009, 03:14:48 AM »

Talk to your local LEOs we used to get called when they had one get hit so we new it was a fresh kill, A lot of the time you didn't get much meat from them becuase of the damage done but it was free.

JBlk · « **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2009, 03:27:53 AM »

Here in Ill if you hit a deer with your vehicle you may now have the deer after notifing the warden.If you decide not to take the deer anyone can claim the carcass.You can get on a call list and the law enforcement agencies will call you when they have a fresh kill that is not claimed.For many years that was not the case and as a result we had dead deer laying all over And causing a considerable expense to clean up and remove from the right of ways.

powderman · « **Reply #8 on:** August 28, 2009, 03:51:16 AM »

I've butchered several road kills. Guts almost always busted up, the smell is terrible. Some meat is salvageable, but a lot is pretty well bruised and bloody. First one I did just about made me puke the smell was so bad. Police must be notified, and if you let them know you want one they will call you when one is reported hit, might be 3am though. Personally I won't pick another one up unless I'm totally starving. POWDERMAN.

Questor · « **Reply #9 on:** August 28, 2009, 04:10:59 AM »

Yecch. I don't think I want to do this. Thanks for the info.

ms · « **Reply #10 on:** August 28, 2009, 04:14:39 AM »

Quote from: powderman on August 28, 2009, 03:51:16 AM

I've butchered several road kills. Guts almost always busted up, the smell is terrible. Some meat is salvageable, but a lot is pretty well bruised and bloody. First one I did just about made me puke the smell was so bad. Police must be notified, and if you let them know you want one they will call you when one is reported hit, might be 3am though. Personally I won't pick another one up unless I'm totally starving. POWDERMAN.

I didn't want to tell him about the puke and smell. HA HA

gstewart44 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 28, 2009, 04:30:13 AM »

I have hit two deer in Florida - both in the Ocala Nat'l Forest. The first one was a 4 pt buck that bounded across the highway where I was going 55-60mph. Instead of leaping on across the road the buck turned 90 degrees to run straight away from my truck. Needless to say I impacted his rearend (do they call that a Texas brain shot?) with the F150. The collision launched the deer about 20 yds down the road. I skidded to a halt and went to look at the DRT buck. Both his rear legs had been broken and shoved up through the gut cavity and one of the leg bones actually penetrated the hide under the ribs. It was a very nasty mess and smell. I didn't even think of harvesting anything.

The other deer was a smallish doe that jumped across the road and got broadsided at about 40 mph (this was a 1966 Ford Fairlane on this one). No visible damage on the outside. Broken ribs and neck. About 3 minutes after I had stopped a Sheriff's Deputy was cruising by and stopped. He asked if I wanted a damage report written up for the bent bumper, and I said no, but I was interested in the venison. The deputy said very plainly "No son, I will take care of this carcass - you can go now".

He probably patrolled that area of the Forest regularly and knew the timing of roadkill harvests. Anyway that has been my only experience at the Roadkill Grill.

rex6666 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 28, 2009, 04:34:29 AM »

Quote from: powderman on August 28, 2009, 03:51:16 AM

I've butchered several road kills. Guts almost always busted up, the smell is terrible. Some meat is salvageable, but a lot is pretty well bruised and bloody. First one I did just about made me puke the smell was so bad. Police must be notified, and if you let them know you want one they will call you when one is reported hit, might be 3am though. Personally I won't pick another one up unless I'm totally starving. POWDERMAN.

I am with you POWDERMAN, i would have to be "real hungry"

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #13 on:** August 28, 2009, 05:13:33 AM »

If you love the smell of a gut-shot deer, want it pre-tenderized and don't might a little crunchy gravel in your meat, sounds like a plan...
Actually if you stay in touch with the local LEO they can direct you to fresh roadkills, but again expect them to be pretty broken and bruised up at times and the guts pop easily. Been around a couple and don't need to be around any more.

I was following a minivan home from work on a four-lane when a big ten-point runs across both westbound lanes, crosses the median and runs right in front of the van. Centered him, blew the radiator and I heard totalled the van, the deer flopped once and was dead. I knew the guy who hit it and he was ok. I kicked myself for not trying to claim the rack, the next morning the deer was there,but no rack.

jim36 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 28, 2009, 05:38:13 AM »

While in route to the deer hunting club[early morning]. I carry a can of red spray paint in the truck. Every time I see a road kill, I stop and spray the deer with the red paint. Upon returning home, the road kill that does not have red paint on it will be guranteed, certified fresh kill. Stop and pick him up. Fresh venison.

Jim

rockbilly · « **Reply #15 on:** August 28, 2009, 07:16:49 AM »

I'll pass on the road kill

..............it is illegal here to take road kill; the theory is, if allowed people would use this method of harvesting deer illegally, I learned this many years ago while working for Texas Game and Fish in Lavaca County. I know of at least one individual that was arrested for using an old farm truck for this purpose on the road between Port Lavaca and Port O’Connor. I have hit two deer; from the way they were busted up I can only imagine what the inside looked like. There may have been some salvageable meat, but it would have been very little.

I would check around and see if there were hunters that didn’t want the meat, we get a lot of them here, strictly trophy hunters that would cut the head off and leave the rest if they thought they could get away with it. Someone like this may be glad to give it to you.

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #16 on:** August 28, 2009, 07:47:05 AM »

Here they buy a license and run over them anyway during the season when they're chasing them... Our population has finally come down, but for quite a few years I'm not sure they cared how you killed 'em, especially the does.

slim rem 7 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 28, 2009, 08:12:35 AM »

not moving a rd killed deer is missing an opportunity to mabe save somebodies live in my opinion...
if a person is late for work an doing 60 or more on a country curve....if you hit a big deer right
you can end up looking at the trees.. i pullem off the rd an call the county dead animal pickup...
one thing im learning thats very interesting to me,,, is how varied the laws are in this country...
think i ll do a little study on that...

torpedoman · « **Reply #18 on:** August 28, 2009, 10:05:01 AM »

in colo it is legal to pick them up as long as you call them to report it the next day. that road kill elk is pretty good meat got three while i was there and the odd thing is they were all hit in the head/neck area.

Mohawk · « **Reply #19 on:** August 28, 2009, 12:24:36 PM »

Illegal in Texas. And don't think that a local cop giving you his business card as he "authorizes" you to take it is legal. It isn't. State Game Wardens are not impressed. Most are usually "limed" away or delivered by the county to the nearest zoo to feed lions, tigers, ex-wives, etc.

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #20 on:** August 28, 2009, 04:31:28 PM »

Quote from: torpedoman on August 28, 2009, 10:05:01 AM

in colo it is legal to pick them up as long as you call them to report it the next day. that road kill elk is pretty good meat got three while i was there and the odd thing is they were all hit in the head/neck area.

Hit by trucks maybe explains the head/neck thing?

mirage1988 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 28, 2009, 05:17:05 PM »

A friend of mine hit one a few years ago and called me to see if I wanted it after he got the permit from the county sheriff. I picked it up, hung it up and gutted it when I got home. After I skinned it the only usable meat on the deer was the backstraps, and he only hit it about 40 miles an hour. If I was to get another one I would just make a cut down the spine thru the hide, cut out the backstraps and leave the rest in the ditch.

Casull · « **Reply #22 on:** August 28, 2009, 05:31:33 PM »

Quote

A friend of mine hit one a few years ago and called me to see if I wanted it after he got the permit from the county sheriff. I picked it up, hung it up and gutted it when I got home. After I skinned it the only usable meat on the deer was the backstraps, and he only hit it about 40 miles an hour. If I was to get another one I would just make a cut down the spine thru the hide, cut out the backstraps and leave the rest in the ditch.

That's the best part anyway.