Sometimes road kill CAN be safely eaten. You must know how long it has been dead, though. Additionally, "massive blunt force trauma" can make large parts of the meat "unattractive". Missouri has established procedures for utilizing road kill. A "Disposition" form is filled out either at the local Conservation Office or, at the scene. Missouri has the "Share the Harvest" program where hunters can donate all or part of their take. My lady friend and I eat "wild" game whenever we can. We also eat other "wild" edibles, especially the berries and nuts so plentiful here. She just baked some paw paw bread (tastes like banana bread) I am cracking hickory nut hulls (VERY tedious) for a pie she will soon be baking. The week-end of the 7th of November we will be having a "wild edibles" dinner at my place. The dinner will feature young raccoon, bison, paw paw bread, persimmon sauce, sumac-ade, duck potatoes, and possibly wild beans. Elderberry and Buffalo berry wines will be some of the beverages served. Now we eat the above partly because we delight in unusual fare but more because this food is so much healthier than the junk one gets at market.

Missouri's hunting programs are sane and necessary. Having spent the summer in a place where humans have occasionally been prey and not predator (Yellowstone Nat. Park) gave me pause. Being out in THOSE woods is the other side of the hunting coin.

I hunt, modern firearms, bow, and flintlock. I hunt squirrel, turkey, raccoon, and deer. I eat bison and elk (we have a friend who raises bison, the elk come from a game farm) as well. The UK has always been a mystery to me and I can't imagine that hunting is anything like it is around here and probably not as necessary.

I saw a fox hunt here once. In Racine county in Wisconsin. I was around 10 or so and the hunt was conducted on my grandma's farm. I thought the horses presented a very exciting show but I don't recall seeing a fox. Everyone looked very nice in their red coats.

CB