cwd testing questions

[backyardtndeer]

In high risk a area. The only one of mine I have had tested since this started went to a taxidermist and they took it from there.

Is there a way to go about testing other than going to a taxidermist to keep a skull intact? Had planned on doing a euro on my 8 point, but got to checking and the freezer drop offs require that you cut the antlers at the skull plate. That won't work.

Killed Sunday morning, with the temps today it's probably too late for this deer now to be checked, has sat in the bed of my old truck, or is it?

 

[Cheshire]

In high risk a area. The only one of mine I have had tested since this started went to a taxidermist and they took it from there.

Is there a way to go about testing other than going to a taxidermist to keep a skull intact? Had planned on doing a euro on my 8 point, but got to checking and the freezer drop offs require that you cut the antlers at the skull plate. That won't work.

Killed Sunday morning, with the temps today it's probably too late for this deer now to be checked, has sat in the bed of my old truck, or is it?

In high risk a area. The only one of mine I have had tested since this started went to a taxidermist and they took it from there.

Is there a way to go about testing other than going to a taxidermist to keep a skull intact? Had planned on doing a euro on my 8 point, but got to checking and the freezer drop offs require that you cut the antlers at the skull plate. That won't work.

Killed Sunday morning, with the temps today it's probably too late for this deer now to be checked, has sat in the bed of my old truck, or is it?

I had the same question last year. I called the game Warden and they were actually collecting samples at one of the deer processors. The date was a week or two away so I put the head in the freezer. They had a very hard time getting the sample because it was frozen, but they didn't give up. I had to go back later that day after it had thawed some. Long story short. Call the game Warden and don't freeze the head.

 

[Cheshire]

I had the same question last year. I called the game Warden and they were actually collecting samples at one of the deer processors. The date was a week or two away so I put the head in the freezer. They had a very hard time getting the sample because it was frozen, but they didn't give up. I had to go back later that day after it had thawed some. Long story short. Call the game Warden and don't freeze the head.

Now that I think about it. I called the taxidermist and he told me about the sample collection. I was asking him what he would charge just to collect the sample and let me do my own mount

 

[SKULLmountTN]

SAVE the SKULL! NOT TO LATE for CWD sample! We are a CWD Sample CO-OPerator and will collect the sample(s) for TWRA's testing without having to remove antlers at NO CHARGE to TN Hunters. We will accept frozen and /or fresh heads but completely frozen takes more time 1-2 days to thaw. Take the head home DIY, or let us do your skull!

If we prepare your skull, we use Dermestid beetles in order to attain and preserve a 'museum quality'. We are located near I-40/240 East Memphis (very near Bass Pro Shop). You may find us in the TWRA App or TEXT to (901) 674-7283

 

[DC219]

You'd think they'd come up with an instant test that hunters could perform in the field.

 

[fairchaser]

You'd think they'd come up with an instant test that hunters could perform in the field.

Not likely anytime soon. The testing process is multiple steps over several days using expensive sophisticated equipment with trained techs.

 

[megalomaniac]

Cut the head off just below the angle of the jaw. The retropharyngeal lymph nodes are now exposed. YouTube a video of what they look like. Cut them out, put in a zip lock baggie, and take just the nodes to your testing station.

Take your skull home, skin, boil and degrease, and put it on your wall.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Thanks for the replies.

Cut the head off just below the angle of the jaw. The retropharyngeal lymph nodes are now exposed. YouTube a video of what they look like. Cut them out, put in a zip lock baggie, and take just the nodes to your testing station.

Take your skull home, skin, boil and degrease, and put it on your wall.

The head is still sitting in the bed of my old truck. With the temps in the 70's the past two days, will these nodes still be viable for testing? Found a video, and will cut them out today. If they should still be good, I will drop them off at a freezer collection site after I get them removed.

 

[Smo]

The incision…

 

[megalomaniac]

Thanks for the replies.

The head is still sitting in the bed of my old truck. With the temps in the 70's the past two days, will these nodes still be viable for testing? Found a video, and will cut them out today. If they should still be good, I will drop them off at a freezer collection site after I get them removed.

2 days is pushing it with 70deg temps, but prob still ok. The older the sample, the more difficult.it is to confirm positive.

 

[backyardtndeer]

2 days is pushing it with 70deg temps, but prob still ok. The older the sample, the more difficult.it is to confirm positive.

Are these the lymph nodes? Thank you for your help.

 

[megalomaniac]

Are these the lymph nodes? Thank you for your help.

yup

 

[SKULLmountTN]

Good Job, Backyard. Good coach, Mega.

 

[backyardtndeer]

yup

Revisiting this for the deer I killed Wednesday. Being that i don't do this everyday, figured I would check with the experts here to make sure thus is right.

 

[Bone Collector]

is that a brown recluse spider near the bag? I have never done it, but it looks the same as the other pics.

 

[backyardtndeer]

is that a brown recluse spider near the bag? I have never done it, but it looks the same as the other pics.

Dead one, yes it is. We have a few in our detached garage.

Do I need to put a warning for Ruger not too look.

 

[megalomaniac]

Hard to say in that recent pic... normally the lymph nodes are a bit more Grey in color, but if there is some fresh blood on the outside of them allowed to oxidize, it turns bright red. The lymph nodes are more mushy than meat, but still have some substance to them. If those are VERY firm, they may be chunks of muscle instead of nodes... again, hard for me to tell in that pic

 

[backyardtndeer]

Hard to say in that recent pic... normally the lymph nodes are a bit more Grey in color, but if there is some fresh blood on the outside of them allowed to oxidize, it turns bright red. The lymph nodes are more mushy than meat, but still have some substance to them. If those are VERY firm, they may be chunks of muscle instead of nodes... again, hard for me to tell in that pic

Thank you for replying. It was just barely above freezing when I cut them out. The blood was pretty sticky. These are definitely Grey and are definitely not muscle. I don't think these are salivary glands, from what I remembered they can get confused for the nodes.

I will drop these off tomorrow. Hopefully they are faster with results this year.

 

[megalomaniac]

Salivary glands will be under the inside angle of the jaw. Nodes will be much deeper and just behind the throat itself