the two blackglands on a deer hine legs about tshe knee is it true that if u rub or touch these or cut them off that the ordor f

[alberthussell]

the two blackglands on a deer hine legs about tshe knee is it true that if u rub or touch these or cut them off that the ordor from them on your hands or knife will ruin the meat when cleaning the deer

[Johnnie]

The glands on the hind legs of deer are called Tarsal Glands. Deer urinate on their tarsal glands, combine that with the natural secretion of the gland and you have the aroma a tarsal gland gives off. Bacteria grows on tarsal glands and some of the bacteria, such as Staph, Strep, Listeria among others, is very harmful to a human's health. Wash your hands (and knife) after handling a deer’s tarsal gland otherwise the bacteria will get on the meat and ruin it plus you could get very sick from the bacteria.

When it comes to butchering the deer I use my cordless reciprocating saw to cut off the deer's leg(s) above the knee joint, than I put the legs in a plastic bag and avoid the rear leg tarsal gland. After that I wash my hands and than proceed with butchering the deer.