wild game: how to trim and prepare deer heart

Clean your hunting knife and other utensils often with clean water and soap.

Cut around cysts, fibromas or other growths, which are common but don’t usually affect game meat quality.

If intestinal contents come into contact with the meat, immediately remove them with clean towels.

While gutting, take special care to not puncture the stomach or intestines to avoid contamination of the meat with intestinal bacteria.

The longer the intestines and other organs are left inside the carcass, the greater the chances that the meat will spoil.

Bleed the carcass and remove the internal organs as quickly as possible.

Wear rubber or disposable gloves while field dressing, skinning, and butchering.

Look up the tag number to find the withdrawal period for your animal. The time from when the animal received the drug until the drug residues are no longer in the animal’s system is called the “withdrawal period”. These drug residues may be harmful to humans if they are still present when the meat of the animal is consumed. Drug residues may remain in the animal’s system for several weeks after it was treated, depending on the particular drug and the species of animal. If you harvest a game animal bearing a round yellow tag, it means that at some point in its life the animal was treated with a drug. Strive for a clean shot avoid gut shots, which can result in contamination of the meat with intestinal contents.

Bags for the heart and liver, if desired.

Much of the following information is from Pacific Northwest Extension Publication 517, “ Big Game from Hunt to Home” and the Clemson Cooperative Extension Publication HGIC 3516, “ Safe Handling of Wild Game Meats.” Before the hunt

Hunters are responsible for educating themselves on the proper care and handling of game meat in order to protect themselves and their families from food-borne illnesses.

In addition, butchering and processing often take place under less than ideal conditions. However, unlike domestically-raised poultry and livestock, wild game animals receive no veterinary care and their meat is not inspected before and after harvest. Harvesting your own game meat can be a satisfying way to provide your family with all-natural, wholesome, and flavorful food. Monofilament recovery and recycling program.

Wild game: how to trim and prepare deer heart