Would you eat a CWD-positive animal?

[WildWill]

Don't gaslight me Bro. You said handling was higher risk than eating.

I said I would think. And was just pointing out that there's as much evidence of cwd transferring from "casual contact" (if that's what you call handling spinal column and brain matter if a buck) as there is for eating it.

 

[mtmuley]

This is the big one for me. If I knew I wouldn't eat a cwd positive animal I simply wouldn't hunt in any high prevalence area. Which sounds like half or more of the country.

Tough decision. mtmuley

 

[NearerTheBone]

what's concerning is that of the three deer my friend and I took that day, two tested positive. The landowner didn't think CWD had reached their neck of the woods. Will be interesting to see how their deer population fares over the next few years

 

[steveshuntn1]

My grandmother retired from a meat processing company that made hot dogs and bologna. From the stories she told we’ve eaten way worse. Probably worst things in those Xmas tree cakes that are everywhere now!

 

[Birdbander]

Probably worst things in those Xmas tree cakes that are everywhere now!

HEY!! Don't you be bringing Little Debbie into this!

 

[steveshuntn1]

what's concerning is that of the three deer my friend and I took that day, two tested positive. The landowner didn't think CWD had reached their neck of the woods. Will be interesting to see how their deer population fares over the next few years

We’ve been dealing with it in MS for years now. The money ran out for testing so they don’t worry with it anymore. Tennessee hunters voted to stop testing for it back in the summer. I eat them if they look healthy. We have tons of wild hogs here now where I hunt and they tell us not to eat those too, but them things are delicious. With all the chemicals they put in our food I’ll take my chances with the wild animals.

 

[Southern Elk]

We’ve been dealing with it in MS for years now. The money ran out for testing so they don’t worry with it anymore. Tennessee hunters voted to stop testing for it back in the summer. I eat them if they look healthy. We have tons of wild hogs here now where I hunt and they tell us not to eat those too, but them things are delicious. With all the chemicals they put in our food I’ll take my chances with the wild animals.

Why do they tell you not to eat the hogs?

 

[steveshuntn1]

Why do they tell you not to eat the hogs?

The main one is swine brucellosis. Someone caught one and put it in a pen with his hogs and they all got it several years back. You can’t move them alive anymore. There’s a whole list of things that people can catch from them listed in the MDWFP pamphlet every year. Wild hogs after the acorns drop are very good!

 

[Greyman]

No

Ditto

 

[WestKyHunt]

Wisconsin has a high prevalence of CWD, especially in the SW corner. Reports show growing herd populations over time.

How many people have eaten CWD deer there?
Unknown, but I'm sure more than your (or mine) initial guess.
How many people have been infected by the consumption of deer meat - 0

The thought of eating infected meat is scarier than the statical data, at least at this time.


All of that to say, if I get a positive result I'd really have to think about how I would move forward with the meat

 

[mxracer317]

I wonder how many CWD positive animals were consumed before the internet. Or did they come to light at the same time? mtmuley

This up

 

[VikingsGuy]

Yes, absolutely would eat it. Wasted meat otherwise. CWD has never spread to humans and can't. It also has zero impact on the muscle tissue you are consuming.

Lots of opinion here - little science. Folks used to say the same thing about BSE until a bunch of folks died in UK. It’s safe until it isn’t. To each their own, but not worth it to me - especially since I am feeding my family the stuff.

 

[mtmuley]

Lots of opinion here - little science. Folks used to say the same thing about BSE until a bunch of folks died in UK. It’s safe until it isn’t. To each their own, but not worth it to me - especially since I am feeding my family the stuff.

You done hunting then?. mtmuley

 

[406dn]

The area near our home is a hotspot for CWD. I do not bother deer hunting, close to home. Where I have been hunting elk the last few years has not seen many positive tests. I suspect it is just a matter of time.

@73 years of age, I might eat an animal testing positive, but I'd never serve it to our kids or grandkids. There is a decent chance that it would become dog food.

 

[WildWill]

Lots of opinion here - little science. Folks used to say the same thing about BSE until a bunch of folks died in UK. It’s safe until it isn’t. To each their own, but not worth it to me - especially since I am feeding my family the stuff.

But is 232 really a bunch? Over 40,000 die in car crashes in the US every year. Probably shouldn't drive not safe.

 

[INMT]

But is 232 really a bunch? Over 40,000 die in car crashes in the US every year. Probably shouldn't drive not safe.

Apples to oranges. Car accidents happen everyday no matter what. This is an unknown where other prion diseases have jumped the barrier.

I’ve never had one test positive so that will be a bridge to cross. Definitely wouldn’t feed to my girls. Not sure what I’d do. Most game agencies offer new tags if your animal tests positive.

OP simply asked if you would or wouldn’t. Not die on this hill and try and convince everyone else by telling them how stupid they are. To each their own.

 

[Ought Six]

They can’t test positive if you don’t get them tested

 

[Sytes]

Simple answer, no.

I'm not crazy minded as if it will definitely affect me however, deer meat is small qty weight for our freezer filler, though a few are nice - rump roast, FTW!. We've only had one cwd positive deer are we are right smack in the heart of one of MT's main deer cwd areas. Elk is our king w/ wife and I B tags. Not now, unfortunately as work has us away from MT AND top that, we used the last of it about a year ago...

That said, I will be testing my elk meat after this thread and unfortunately, pass eating it as well if cwd positive.

I was stunned to see @trb 's post regarding Colorado elk and cwd when MT reported its first two cwd cases...

Thread 'CWD Spreads To Elk.' https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/cwd-spreads-to-elk.326851/

 

[WildWill]

Apples to oranges. Car accidents happen everyday no matter what. This is an unknown where other prion diseases have jumped the barrier.

I’ve never had one test positive so that will be a bridge to cross. Definitely wouldn’t feed to my girls. Not sure what I’d do. Most game agencies offer new tags if your animal tests positive.

OP simply asked if you would or wouldn’t. Not die on this hill and try and convince everyone else by telling them how stupid they are. To each their own.

Not stupid just afraid. And 232 is the total dead of mad cow disease as of 2019 not per year. If that ain't apples to apples nothing is.

 

[INMT]

Not stupid just afraid. And 232 is the total dead of mad cow disease as of 2019 not per year. If that ain't apples to apples nothing is.

Well again, comparing car accidents to something that hasn’t happened yet is indeed apples to oranges. I’m not arguing the number of dead from mad cow.

Maybe they are afraid vs stupid. Why do you care? It’s an individual decision. About as American as it gets.