[Hunting Man]

Between the six of us and over 300 deer shot, one of this weeks deer had something around the esophagus that we have never seen. There were around 20-25 beenlike, cocoon looking pods, from 1/4" to 3/4". These things ranged in color from red to dark brown, the bigger they got. They were fairly firm and didn't have any living things in them that we could tell. Anyone who has any information regarding what these things might be please post it. I don't believe they were tumors but more perasite looking. Strange things anyway.

 

[wmi]

Very common here in Maryland. Tumor caused by a parasite. Not a problem to humans but then again I'm not going to eat one to find out. Like you said they are only around the esophagus.

 

[Guest]

never seen or heard of it.

 

[BruceBruce1959]

did they look like this...this is a magnified view

 

[Hunting Man]

BB, similar, I didn't see any segments or rings though. The shape is close. There were many sizes and colors but the shapes seemed constant.

 

[BruceBruce1959]

OK then it's not what I was thinking, I recently read an article about Deer nose Bots (Bot Fly)
but it didnt say anything about exterior larvae or cocoon kinda things on the throat so i was wondering myself.

 

[wmi]

No Bruce they look like small kidney beans. They are always found right around the esophagus. When you cut the wind pipe out for your neck roast they for the most part come right out with it. I spoke with a butcher who told me that sometimes cattle get them as well. Evidently they do not harm the deer either. The first time I saw them was one my first deer and they worried the heck out of me until others told me that they are common. They said just cut them away. Don't know much detail other than what I have said but I do know a biologist to gain more information. I will let all of you know the details in a day or so.

By the way they are under the skin and under the muscle strip on either side of the throat so you can not see them until you skin the animal.

 

[timberghost]

I've had something similar in a doe I got a couple of years ago. Only they were grayish spongy looking things about the size of a kidney bean or a grape. There were a couple scattered around the rear leg muscle group and just popped out with a knife. But I'm still alive today and my dad and some others that ate the deer. I don't know what those were but I haven't seen anything since.

 

[BruceBruce1959]

wmi is this what you're referring to? I dont think this is what huntingman was seeing but I think this is what you're describing.

Deer Nose Bots

 

[wmi]

wmi is this what you're referring to? I dont think this is what huntingman was seeing but I think this is what you're describing.

Deer Nose Bots

No these look nothing like maggot pupas. They look like small tumors without veins attached. They bury up in the senu(?) around the esophagus.

 

[BruceBruce1959]

ok gotcha...

 

[Hunting Man]

wmi, you are correct, no blood supply attached and my buddy de-bones the neck to make a rolled roast and thats how we found them. We would have found them anyway when cutting out the esophagus but this really allowed us to inspect them in a group. I'm sure they're a parasite but seemed not to be feeding on the host as much as simply residing with-in the host and incubating. Don't know what happens next, hopefully we can figure this out. Thanks for the input!

 

[Body Bag]

I have seen the kidney beans anywhere there is a decent amount of fat. I have seen the flies larve too. Nasty little boogers.

If it is questionable just don't eat it. Have a butcher look at it or a G&F Bot