We used to butcher our own game, including making sausage and hamburger. One whitetail doe my father shot appeared to be in ok condition until it was skinned. Upon removing the hide we noticed along the spine there was a bulge, which was accidentally touched with a knife. The amount of green puss that oozed from that deer was disturbing, not to mention the smell. The deer had been shot by another Hunter, perhaps the season before, and my guess was it would have eventually died from the wound, given the size of the corruption.
We all owe it to ourselves as hunters and to the game to make responsible choices...
North