White goo while field dressing deer.

[ChefJeff1]

Has anyone ever encountered any white goo while field dressing their deer. My buddy observed this while dressing his. It came from the rib cage/side area. He said it was kinda think and about a cup in volume. What could this be? Is it from an infection or something? Is the deer sick? Is the meat ok to eat? I told him I have no idea and would ask here. Thanks, Jeff

 

[jbkebert]

The only time I have encountered this is when I took a doe. I took her in archery season and she was still lactating. Other than that I have not ran across this. Although mine came from lower than your friends.

 

[ChefJeff1]

It was a doe indeed, not sure exactly where it was though. Lactating huh, very interesting.

 

[bang_bang]

Yeah, just milk. The mammary glands on deer are quite large on some of the older does. I think every doe I have taken has been lactating.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Lactating doe.
I once shot a doe in late January that was full of milk.

 

[2dswamp]

Lactating, maybe. But if she was lactating...it won't have the consistency of "goo".

If she was lactating...it will look like what it is, milk. Thin and runny and white...just like the skim milk in your fridge.

Also...you/friend should have experienced runny milk like fluid as soon as you sliced through her "teet" area near mid-section, not near the ribs.

If it was "gooey" and thicker, and inside around the ribs...you might be dealing with something else entirely.

 

[buck460XVR]

a doe whether lactating or not, will still have the white, fatty, milk producing tissue of the mammary glands(looks like goo). Ruminates teats are not just bags of milk. It does not go away just because the doe isn't nursing. It sits there and waits forever just in case it's ever needed. Same with humans......this is why we as men are able to admire the attributes of our female companions, even tho they aren't actively nursing.

Discharges from infected wounds in deer are not white, they are yellowish or greenish and smell. There is also obvious signs of trauma or healing. Old healed wounds may be encased in a gristle like tissue. The meat would be safe to eat, but flavor may be tainted from fever if the wound is fresh. Deer also may have benign cysts which are harmless and do not make the meat inedible.