Best practices for cleaning game

Cleaning game birds and mammals poses only minimal health risks to humans, but it pays to be cautious. To stay safe, and to help game managers gauge the state of our wildlife, follow these rules:

» Wear latex gloves when handling or cleaning game carcasses. At the very least, wash thoroughly when 
you’re finished.

» If you become ill or develop unusual symptoms, go to a doctor and be sure to mention that you recently
 handled wildlife.

» If you find anything unusual in a game animal that you can’t identify or are uncertain about, call your local wildlife office. They may be able to answer your questions directly, or ask that you bring in some tissue or the entire carcass for examination. Keep the tissue cool, and if you can’t get to the wildlife office within a day or two, freeze it