Deer Liver Flukes
Contributors to this thread:Whitetail Deer
From: Bear Track
17-Nov-10
Bear Track's Link
I shot a nice deer last evening and saved the liver for "the old guy I take care of". I was about to slice it up and thought I'd have a slice for myself too and noticed a raised dark lump. I cut into it and out slid this thing that looked like a large, wide dead blood sucker. I pushed on the liver around the knife hole I'd just made and out came another! Noticing another spot similiar and cutting into it, 2 more flukes slide out. Did the research, and found it pretty interesting, and called the biologist at our natural resouces office and was told they are not uncommon and cannot hurt the meat or affect it in any way.
You guys ever come across flukes? And I don't think I'll be eating any more liver.
From: luck???
17-Nov-10
catfish bait?
From: wallbldr
18-Nov-10
WOW, Thanks for the gross out!!! I like liver too!! Especially fresh liver, not the pre-frozen stuff from the grocery store. One of my all time favorite treats is Venison liver pate'. Now I'm going to be looking at my next venison liver close! But then I've punished my liver on occasion, maybe I have Flukes too. Reminds me of the "grub" that lives in the backs of cod. I don't even know if it's true or not, but it does make me think about it whenever I eat Cod. Wallbldr
From: hobbes
18-Nov-10
Never saw one of the flukes, but back when I had the taxi shop at least every other deer that came through the doors had Bot worms (not sure about the spelling)in their sinus cavity. The are larvae from bot flies. They look like a fat white grub. A lot of times they were dead because the deer was cold, but other times the head was fresh enough that they were still alive and would come crawling out. The flukes sound really gross and just confirms my dislike of liver.
You get used to some really gross stuff in a taxi shop. I'm hungry for gumi worms for some reason.
From: Somersbow
18-Nov-10
I keep the liver form every deer I shoot to eat fried in bacon fat w/ onions or to make into pate. Of all the livers I have dalt with I had one fluke in one doe liver. Same thing...Raised bump, cut and fluke slid out. Rest of the liver was fine. Did make that one into a pate though so I didn't have to wonder if it was an onion or a fluke while eating slices ;)
From: Bear Track
18-Nov-10
Also one of the web sites I researched said to cut liver in 1/2 inch slices to confirm or not, the presence of flukes. I'd cut that whole liver in slices if I was ever to attempt liver again, after what I saw yesturday.
Ya, besides being an outfitter, I'm a taxidermist also. Bot fly grubs are common in Alberta deer and caribou. Never seen tham in the nose but lots in the capes.
From: Bear Track
18-Nov-10
Also one of the web sites I researched said to cut liver in 1/2 inch slices to confirm or not, the presence of flukes. I'd cut that whole liver in slices if I was ever to attempt liver again, after what I saw yesturday.
Ya, besides being an outfitter, I'm a taxidermist also. Bot fly grubs are common in Alberta deer and caribou. Never seen tham in the nose but lots in the capes.
From: BOWNUT@WORK
18-Nov-10
I was told all deer in MI have them.All you have to do is slice a peice and let it sit for a while and you will see them.Just cook it well done they wont hurt you.Kinda the same thing as cod fish worms.If you cook them they wont hurt you.Just gross you out when you know they are there.I was told it was from the deer drinking stagnet water.
From: midwest
18-Nov-10
I don't know why I chose to read this thread while eating dinner...