no problem if it's been smashed to death recently. As long as it's not all mangled

I've done it in the past, and I'll do it again. If the animal was freshly killed, no point in letting the salvageable meat go to waste. You do have to make sure you go through the proper authorities, because in some states you need a license for the meat/carcass.

Sure, as long as you know it’s fresh. I’ve done it a couple times. Once I was with a friend when he hit a deer – in the head, virtually no damage to the meat. Another time I was right behind another vehicle that hit a deer on a country road. In both cases my friends and I took the whole deer home, butchered it up and split the meat.

Oh yeah, we do it all the time. Usually the deer is still alive, so we put it out of its misery and take it home. Probably get about 4-5 road killed deer a year.

I hit a bison one time, and my biggest regret is that I was to worried about getting my vehicle back on the road to take any meat.

I helped a buddy salvage a deer he hit once. If you know its fresh, it just seems a waste to let it go.

Years ago back in the late 60's growing up in Alabama my brother and I had been fishing all day with no luck. My mother always looked forward to our coming home with fresh fish and when we didn't she would really give us a hard time. So this day we know were in for a ribbing from Mom about not catching any fish. Well not far from the lake I hit a rabbit. I stop look in the review mirror and there lays a fresh killed rabbit. I told my brother "go back and get the rabbit". He looked at me kind of funny and I said "Were not going home empty handed" and we didn't. And we ate that rabbit.

I've never done it but I definitely wouldn't pass the chance to, no reason to let that good meat go to waste.

The only animal I've ever hit was a big fat mule deer doe, and she was even more messed up than my truck.

I would consider it if it was fresh, after getting permission from a conservation agent.

Montana sees a surge of cattle guards for the front of trucks. Trick is to get yer kids out of the truck when you see a deer crossing sign and have them flush animals out of the bush into the road. Then those nitro boosters kick in.

I went to a small DIV III rural college here in VA (about 1400 students) and one night at a party, a girl came in and said she had just hit a deer so a buddy and I went and salvaged what meat we could. Well word travels fast in a small college and after that we started getting phone calls on random nights from other friends or acquaintances who had hit deer. All told I bet we went out close to a dozen times to recover some meat. It kept our freezers full and grocery bills low! I have no qualms about claiming fresh road kill, like many have said it’s easy to cut out the bruised or damaged meat.

I've had it. I don't see the problem. I've never taken myself, but have a family member who works nights and rides a short stretch of 80. If it wasn't there at 11PM, but is there at 7AM on a cold morning, he'd take it. Would through out the impacted side typically.

Koldcut, I'm just reading your comment and yep, PA.

I have and probably will again.

I've hit one deer and seen many hit right in front of me and it is a shame to see them go to waste. It makes sense to me that they allow it to be salvaged. Most car hit animals are not damaged as badly as when hit by a 30-06. With the cost of gas and auto repair, I also doubt that too many hunters will be stalking big game with their cars.

I haven't but I almost did and it was actually in Montana. I was on my way to class coming from outside of Missoula and a car going the opposite way hit a doe crossing the road. It happened about 50 yards in front of me. THe guy stopped his car, his wife got out and she drug it off to the side of the road. If I hadnt already burned my sick days fly fishing the bitterroot I would have stopped.

I haven't but I've definitely thought about it. If it were legal, I probably would. Many deer get hit within a few miles of my house. Several times over the years I've seen it happen, or came along recently after. If I knew I wouldn't have to get harassed by a passing officer, I would definitely pull some straps in the future.

Good point huber. I think fresh being the important thing here. I would hesitate to harvest anything that I did not see killed, or if the driver was still there stunned. And I dont think anyone who is not starving would take the same care in getting "all" of the meat. Whatever quarters are not damaged probably. But this is a fairly common practice, esp in colder climates, and by locals who would notice a new deer on the road that wasnt there last night ect. But being a borderline germaphobe myself from 15 years in the food industry, It would be a special circumstance.

And the legality issue is important, as it gives people clear understanding of the laws. Dont have to worry about accidentally getting a big fine.

The other issue is that it gets animals off of the road, safer for other drivers, and safer for scavenger animals that may become endangered while eating.

Thats a good sorce of meat for needy families. Glad to hear that the meat will go to good use. As for me I have never and will never eat roadkill. If I want backstraps I go out and shoot a doe (if its deer season). Never had a problem doing that. That way I know exactly how long its been there and it was perfictly health when killed.

It's been illegal forever in Montana but I know lots of people (including my dad) who ignored the law and took them anyway. Most highway patrolmen just looked the other way.

The deterrent for legalizing this has always been concern that people will stop in the roadway to retrieve a dead animal and then get hit by another car or cause an accident. I think we all have to admit there is some justification with that concern. Several years ago when returning home to Ontario from visiting my parents I rounded a sharp corner on Hwy 2 near Nyak Flats (across the river from Glacier Park) and nearly ran over some idiot tourist who had just hit and seriously wounded a black bear. The guy was right in the middle of the road in a panic trying to flag someone down. Of course, I didn't have a gun beings that I was heading back home to Canada and only assistance I could provide was to tell the guy to get his stupid arse out of the road. A logger came by in a few seconds and he was able to dispatch bear much to the disgust of said tourist who though it should have been airlifted to nearest hospital.

OH My only reply is yes meat can turn and even a hungry dog will refuse it. The problem arises with food that is not handled or processed correctly. Being older I remember when pigs were free range. Carrying four major disease's they were routinely cooked like the barn burned down and no one got out alive. Pigs are now breed leaner and farm raised on a meatless and carrion free diet. So store bought pork is brined and not cooked so much. The only major out breaks of food poisoning in America was blamed on fetal matter in hamburger and lettuce. I have taken part in DOC hunts when feral animals over run a farm. This meat is processed and given to the less fortunate. It is however processed properly. Starting the butchering process with a blunt instrument like a car bumper IMHO is not worth the risk and does not lend itself to a palatable meal. But we are all grownups and the circumstances are different with each animal. So my best advice is do what you feel. Maybe the Deer heard your horn had an aneurysm and bleed out. JMHO

Good points Carl. Of course, as I'm sure you well know, very few animals shot in the wild are "bled out" any better being shot with a rifle than they are if whacked by a car. One of the greatest myths taught in hunter safety is that it's necessary to cut an animal's throat to "bleed it out" or risk ruining the meat. What hogwash! We are also taught that the boiler room is the best place to put a shot with the result being, of course, that almost no blood comes out the neck when it's opened up.

If an animal is warm, not too stiff, and not bloated, I would definitely proceed to dress it out and see what's going on from there.

Not to get off point but I have seen more than one TV hunt were a Deer was shot at dusk. This sort of upset me. What good would that meat be good for 12 hours later. Maybe it's me but I think that is wrong or very dumb to show that behavior on a TV show.

Hit a deer with my truck, last November, early morning, on the way to go deer hunting. Deer came out from behind a pile of brush that was stacked on the side of the road. I couldn't do anything, she hit squarely on the front of the bumper. She was lowering her body, when she hit, like she was going to bound away, not today. She slid about 25-30 feet and never moved an inch. I got out of my truck, survey the damage, and realize that the doe is pretty good size (125 dressed). So what do you do? Part of me wanted to go hunting, but the other part of me felt like I would be a hypocrite if I just left her there. Called local PD to come out and fill out a report. Within a few minutes neighbors came out, and then a resident trooper showed up. Couldn't just leave her there, the trooper and I loaded the doe into the truck, guts and all. I wasn't going to push my luck gutting it on the side of the road. Got home, dragged her into the woods behind my house, field dressed her, and then hung her in the garage. Only lost about 20% in 1 hind quarter, the rest was perfect. BACK SRTAPS TONIGHT!

How about iron fence killed? In a few of the old cemeteries around the Buffalo NY area, deer have been jumping and impaling themselves on those old iron spiked fences you often see. To some of the local suburbanites it's a horror show that has sent them picketing the local authorities to cap the spikes or take the 100++ year old fences down. Those deer seem to have bled out, but unless I'm on the seen close to when it happens, I'll let someone else have 1st dibs.

A deer that's just been hit? A dead raccoon that's laid in the hot Georgia sun for 2 weeks? Uh, no.