Proper disposal of a deer carcass is important to prevent the spread of disease, avoid environmental contamination, and comply with state regulations. Here are some tips on what to do with a deer carcass:

• Check state regulations: Before disposing of a deer carcass, it is important to understand the laws in your state concerning the disposal of deer remains.

• Remove viscera: When field dressing a deer, always wear disposable or rubber gloves, have a plastic sheet or tarp on hand to lay under the carcass while field dressing, and have non-porous garbage bags on hand. After the viscera have been removed, place them in a non-porous garbage bag and pack them out of the woods.

• Bury the remains: If you are leaving the carcass behind, the best practice is to bury the remaining bones and body parts at least two feet beneath the natural surface of the ground, and in accordance with local ordinances. Heads, hides, and entrails should be buried at least 2 to 3 feet deep so dogs or other animals wont dig up the remains and drag them around.

• Take it to a landfill: Alternatively, hunters can take the remains to their local landfill provided the landfill accepts animal carcasses.

• Compost the remains: For hunt clubs that harvest large numbers of deer, composting deer remains solves the dilemma of deer carcass disposal. Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field office or Conservation District office for information on constructing a simple composter to recycle deer remains.

• Do not dump remains improperly: Improperly dumping remains in a creek or river, near a boat ramp, along a road, on public property or private property that is not yours can cause human and animal health issues, environmental contamination, and a food resource for unwanted scavenging animals.

It is important to properly dispose of a deer carcass to avoid negative impacts on the environment and public health.