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Best way to remove deer head and antlers for CWD testing?

6.4K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  338/378wm  
#1 · (Edited)
If you harvest a deer in a CWD DMA, you are supposed to remove the head and submit it for testing. But you are also supposed to avoid the high risk parts of the animal, which includes the brain and spinal tissue. Since the spinal chord needs to be cut to remove the head, this presents a conundrum.

So what is the safest way to remove the head to reduce the risk of coming in contact with infected tissues as much as possible?

And how do you cut the antler skull plate off without exposing yourself to infected brain tissue?
 
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#4 ·
Very easy. Skin your deer to the neck. Cut off with saw. Wear gloves if you are that scared of CWD. If you want the horns cut them off with a saw. I use a Sawzall. Remove small skin membrane from skull plate before you leave the CWD area. Once home boil skull plate and you are good to go. I have hunted CWD states long before the scare PA hunters are going through. I never wore gloves and will continue to never wear gloves. If loving hunting kills me because CWD at least I died loving what I want to do. If it bothers you and you are scared get a tyvec suit and cover your whole body.
 
#6 ·
So you think I'd be ok if just used a chainsaw and splattered blood and brains all over the place? Maybe if I rip its heart out and eat it right there on the spot, I might find favor with the hunting gods and they will protect me from CWD.
 
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