Tumors / growths on mule deer.

[HEADACHE]

Just checked a camera this morning, never seen this before. I guess I've seen it on Whitetail back east on hunting shows and stuff, but never round these parts.

 

 

 

young buck in a herd (12 or so) of healthy deer.

Northern AZ (just north of the peaks if you must know)

 

What's your take on it?

[lancetkenyon]

I have seen a few bucks taken north of the Ditch that had similar, albeit smaller, versions of those. G&F said meat should be OK to eat. But no way in heck I would.

[ready2hunt]

dang that boy had got it bad. I wouldn't eat it either.

[GreyGhost85]

Poor sucker

[Allforelk]

Looks like the facial growths that were on the Gypsies I used to toss out of Casino Arizona. I'm assuming this poor little guy won't be making death threats and cursing your family, but I recommend a CCW just in case.

[DUG]

My girl shot one in 7 one year and it had a growth on the neck. It was the consistency of the pad on a dogs paw.

[BOHNTR]

They're called cutaneous fibromas, commonly called deer warts. Fibromas are benign tumors that are composed of fibrous or connective tissue and are tumors which involve the skin. They are caused by a virus specific to deer. The virus is thought to be transmitted by various biting insects. However, another possible means of transmission of the viral agent is direct contact through any assortment of contaminated objects, which may scratch or penetrate the skin of the deer.

 

Rarely do fibromas cause deer any problems but occasionally the location of a large single or multiple clumps of fibromas can interfere with sight, eating, breathing, or even affect the ability of the deer to walk. The attachment of the fibroma is limited to the skin and no evidence of it can normally be found in the muscle. Fibroma presence is typically indistinguishable after skinning the deer. No human infection from cutaneous fibromas has ever been reported or discovered. Most of the time it is safe to consume the meat of a deer as the tumors only involve the skin. The only concern one should have is when the deer has severe secondary bacterial infection within the warts. Occasionally the larger fibromas acquire a bacterial infection through a break in the skin, which would render the deer unsuitable for human consumption. Therefore, you should discard any carcass and contact the local F&G if the fibromas look like they have been injured or have a foul smell.

[HEADACHE]

Thanks for that info sir.

[BOHNTR]

My pleasure, gents.

[Hoss50]

My dad and his buddies pulled a warty deer out of 20a many moons ago. It had a wart partially blocking 1 eye so it ran I circles after the first shot was missed.

[Nitemann]

A Kaibab muley and a couple severe cases in eastern whitetail. Probably not going to find anybody who would eat the severe cases.

 

[PJM]

I hope never to see one of these poor deer. I was going to lunch , but just lost my appetite.

Thanks for sharing. This was very educational.