I shot an 18" 3x2 A zone black tail last evening. When I was cleaning it, I ran into a LARGE packet of pus in the chest area. I lost my lunch immediately. Does anyone know what causes these (old wound or whatever)?

Are you still going to eat it?

Well pus is just white blood cells responding to an infection. Without examining it in person the best guess is an old penetrating wound that was trying to heal. How did the buck look/act before the shot?

Depending on the extent of the injury you could be able remove the damaged area and salvage the rest of the carcass or you could be looking at spetic shock which will cause a lack of perfusion in all the skeltal muscle. In other words you will have coyote bait.

I'm pretty sure if you kill an animal that is not fit to eat in NYS, the DEC will give you a new tag??

Too bad on your buck................................

I don't eat any critter that has an infection.

Sorry, but I will swear I smell that when it's on my plate.