Many hunters are very passionate about following certain ethical and moral principles when it comes to the animals they hunt. Many hunters strongly believe hunting ethics and morality dictate that you must eat what you kill. But can these principles realistically apply to animals that are most commonly hunted at night?
Much of the reason for lax regulations on night hunting of certain animals is because those animals are considered nuisance animals. Therefore, perhaps some hunters feel that it is ethically permissible to kill them even if they do not plan to eat them if it means mitigating other problems such as saving farmers’ crops or livestock.
But for those diehard advocates of the “if you don’t eat it, don’t kill it” principle, this article provides a bit of insight and tips for best practices when it comes to eating some of the less commonly consumed meats.
Animals That Are Commonly Night Hunted
Before we dive into the rest of the article, it’s helpful to recall the types of animals that are commonly night hunted. This is not an exclusive list, but the following animals represent the bulk of those hunted at night.
- Coyotes
- Wild hogs
- Raccoons
- Bobcats
- Foxes
The one on the list that most would consider eating is likely the wild hog. After all, bacon is bacon, right? However, it appears that raccoons may be a fairly common dish in some areas.
So it may not be too uncommon to hear of humans consuming wild hogs and raccoons. But it is very rare that you would find yourself being offered coyote or bobcat meat.
Which Animals You Can Eat
As long as it is sufficiently cooked, humans can safely eat nearly any type of meat. However, there may be higher risks associated with undercooked meat and handling the carcasses of certain species. The following sections independently cover each of the listed animals that may be commonly hunted at night.
Can You Eat Coyote Meet?
The straightforward answer to whether humans can eat coyote meat is yes. Not only can they, they do. While not considered common practice, some people do eat coyote meat and claim that it even has a pleasant taste. Wild game dinners sometimes have dishes containing coyote meat. In general, however, coyote meat is not often consumed by humans.
You probably don’t have to ask why coyote meat is not a regularly prepared meal. One probable factor is the way coyotes often smell – if you’ve dealt with coyotes much, you know how rank they can be.
The most likely reason most people would not consider eating a coyote, however, is their relation to dogs, at least in the United States. Eating dogs in the United States is almost unheard of and even illegal in some states such as California.
So unsurprisingly, people usually do not consume coyote meat. But if a person decides to do so, is it safe? The answer is yes, it is relatively safe to eat coyote meat if it is sufficiently cooked. However, there could be risks, especially in dressing the coyote.
One possible concern with handling coyotes is rabies. It’s common knowledge that if you are bitten by a wild animal, you should seek medical attention to rule out possible contraction of rabies. However, studies show that it is possible to contract rabies by ways other than being bitten.
There is little information available specifically relating to coyotes. But the medical and scientific studies regarding possible health risks of eating dogs are applicable and provide good insight.
As briefly mentioned, dogs are commonly consumed in some areas of the world. Such practices have struck health concerns regarding human contraction of rabies.
The Philippines and China have reported that dog slaughtering presents risks of rabies transmission. “[In] 2008, 30 people from the Philippines were reported to have received anti-rabies vaccination after having eaten the meat of a rabid dog. An epidemiological survey in China reported that two out of 64 patients contracted rabies by either killing, cooking, or consuming dogs.” (Source)
While those findings were not directly related to coyotes, it is still compelling evidence that handling and perhaps even consuming coyote meat is risky because of coyotes’ susceptibility to carry rabies. So, if you’re going to dress a coyote and eat it, it is a good idea to note how the coyote acted while it was alive, wear gloves while dressing it, and ensure that it is cooked thoroughly.
Can You Eat Wild Hogs?
It’s relativity common for humans to consume wild hog meat. Many even prefer it over domesticated pork. It is considered safe to eat wild hogs if you take the proper precautions.
Like any wild meat, there are some risks associated with eating wild hogs. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), humans can get 24 diseases from wild hogs. Most of which relate to consuming undercooked meat. (Source) So you should always ensure your wild pork chops are cooked thoroughly. The CDC instructs people to cook hog meat to an internal temperature of 164 degrees F.
Consuming undercooked meat isn’t the only factor for risk. Just handling wild hogs can result in a sickness called brucellosis. According to the CDC, “[p]eople may get the germs through contact with an infected hog’s blood, fluids, or tissues (such as muscles, testicles, liver or other organs).” (Source)
Brucellosis often makes you feel like you have the flu and systems may not manifest for months after coming into contact with the germ. Thankfully, brucellosis is rarely fatal and can usually be treated with antibiotics. But if left untreated it can cause serious problems in bones, joints, and the heart. (Source)
It is always best practice to wear gloves when handling raw meat and carcasses and avoid letting wild animal bodily fluids contact your eyes or mouth.
Can You Eat Raccoon Meat?
Can you eat raccoon meat? Yes, you can, and in some areas of the United States, it’s relatively common. But as always, there are precautions you should take.
In urban areas, many associate raccoons with trash sifting and other unsanitary practices which might cause hesitance in cooking one up. However, there are entire events centered on consuming raccoon in more rural areas. These events include the Gillet Coon Super in Arkansas and the Delafield Coon Feed in Minnesota.
Even if you do harvest a raccoon in an area where they have alternative methods for surviving to sifting through trashcans, you should still keep in mind that raccoons are considered one of the primary carriers of rabies.
According to the CDC, raccoons came in second after bats for the most frequently reported rabid wildlife species in 2015, accounting for 29.4 percent. (Source). Therefore, while many would likely say raccoons taste better than coyotes, it is best practice to take the same precautions during handling and cooking them as those discussed in regards to coyotes above.
Can You Eat Bobcat Meat?
Yes. Humans can eat bobcat meat. But, while it’s possible to find it served at a wild game dinner, humans do not commonly eat bobcats.
One of the most obvious reasons for humans’ lack of desire to consume bobcat meat is similar to the reason coyotes are not appetizing – they are too closely related to the common house cat.
As always, there are risks with eating wild meat. However, the risk of rabies exposure is lower with bobcats than some of the other mentioned animals. Bobcats are not on the CDC’s list of primary rabies carriers. However, you should always take the proper precautions because it is possible to contract rabies from bobcats.
One case study showed that two patients with confirmed rabies began having symptoms after butchering, preparing, and consuming a dog and a cat. The exact cause of the rabies is not clear. It concluded that the consumption was likely not the cause, but that it could have been contracted through cuts on the people’s hands while handling the animals’ carcass; the article noted previous reports of rabies following handling of infected carcasses. (Source)
Can You Eat Fox Meat?
Much like the coyote, foxes are closely related to dogs, which likely contributes to the reason that Fox meet is not commonly consumed by humans. However, the answer to whether you can eat fox meat is yes.
Much of the analysis under the question of whether humans can eat coyote meat applies to the fox because of their similarities. Therefore, most of the risk factors for consuming coyote apply to fox meat.
Also, like raccoons, foxes are on the CDC’s list of primary rabies carriers. However, foxes only contributed to 5.9 percent of reported cases of rabies in 2015 compared to raccoons’ 29.4 percent. (Source)