Oregon’s new roadkill law

Oregon just implemented the new roadkill law. If you hit a deer or elk you can now harvest it and infact are encouraged to.
So...what should an inexperienced hunter look out for before harvesting a deer/elk after hitting it with a car? I know a gut shot is a bad deal but what is harvestable on it if infact it's guts are exploded? What is still salvageable? And how would you safely harvest it?

556shooter said:

Oregon just implemented the new roadkill law. If you hit a deer or elk you can now harvest it and infact are encouraged to.
So...what should an inexperienced hunter look out for before harvesting a deer/elk after hitting it with a car? I know a gut shot is a bad deal but what is harvestable on it if infact it's guts are exploded? What is still salvageable? And how would you safely harvest it?

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Quarter that sucker out and call it a day! I use the gutless method anyway - easy to take all 4 quarters, the backstraps and tenderloins(a little more technical but not bad with the gutless method)

FIGJAM said:

Quarter that sucker out and call it a day! I use the gutless method anyway - easy to take all 4 quarters, the backstraps and tenderloins(a little more technical but not bad with the gutless method)

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It seems like the good meat is in the quarters anyhow isn't it? Are you missing much meat in the torso area other than the backstrap? I haven't read up on the laws but I believe you have to take the whole animal out and turn the head over to fish and wildlife or state police within 5 days.

556shooter said:

It seems like the good meat is in the quarters anyhow isn't it? Are you missing much meat in the torso area other than the backstrap? I haven't read up on the laws but I believe you have to take the whole animal out and turn the head over to fish and wildlife or state police within 5 days.

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Its subjective, but my favorites are the backstraps and tenderloins. The most meat is in the hind quarters. The backstraps shouldn't be effected if the guts are blown up inside.

If I have to haul off an entire deer that has been hit by a car with exploded guts I'll probably leave it on the side of the road. If its an elk - i might muscle through it. I have gutted a gut shot deer before and it was nasty. The gutless method is the only way to go in my opinion. You can still pop the head off.