Fresh & free-range: if you run over an animal, is it yours to eat in Ohio? What law says
Times are tough lately, so if you come across the opportunity to eat free, you take it, right?
If you recently hit an animal on the road or witnessed one meet their end, you could be bringing home a fresh dinner.
That’s right, we’re talking about eating roadkill. But first, is it even legal? Here’s what to know:
Is it legal to eat roadkill in Ohio?
The law says yes, but there are several things to know.
Ohio law (Section 1533.121) says that “the driver of every motor vehicle that has caused the death of a deer by striking the deer on a highway may take possession of the deer.”
So, not only is there one type of animal allowed to harvest, but the law also states that you may take the deer if you (the driver) were the one that killed the deer by hitting it on the road. The law says nothing about other animals or if you’re legally allowed to take them if you weren’t the one that hit them.
Although it isn’t stated in this law, Ohio officials did pass a House Bill in 2013 that allows residents to harvest wild hogs, boars or turkeys if they hit and killed them on the road.
In addition, Ohio law says that you must report the accident to a law enforcement officer or wildlife officer within 24 hours of the incident, to which the officer will issue you a “certificate for legal ownership of the deer to the driver.”
After all this is done, feel free to start cooking.
But this begs the question: why would you want to harvest roadkill and eat it? As we mentioned earlier, it doesn’t cost anything, but of course, there are more reasons than that:
“Roadkill is free of the antibiotics, hormones, and growth stimulants found in factory-farmed meat. And many roadkill species—including elk, deer, boar, and certain game birds—are pretty darn tasty, and sell for quite a bit when farm-raised, packaged and offered in stores,” said Maria Cristina Lalonde, a writer for Wide Open Country.
Makes sense, right? If you’re fully convinced now and wondering how you should go about preparing your roadkill meal, we’ve got some tips for you.
How to prepare your roadkill for consumption
Here are some tips for safely preparing your roadkill to eat:
First, you’ll want to look at the animal and see where it was hit. “You won’t want to eat any part that made direct contact with a bumper. Many deer, elk, and pronghorn get hit by cars on their back half,” said Noah Davis in his blog for Meat Eater. “Look for trauma along the belly, discoloring from intestinal rupture, and damage around the anus. These all indicate a messy gutting situation and, probably, spoiled meat.”
Be picky, just like you would be picking out meat at the store. “In a perfect world, the animal is only a few hours old, even still warm,” wrote Forager Chef blogger Alan Bergo.
Cook and eat only the best parts. “Stick to only the freshest and healthiest-looking meat. Based on our experience, the front shoulders and the backstraps are usually in good condition,” said hunter James Zandstra.
Have any questions about this story? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com.
