Some cleaned pheasants in plastic bags were left outside late in the day until the next morning. Over 12 hours easy.
Temp was 50’s and 40’s.
Still good? I filleted some up today and they seemed perfectly fine. Nothing off about them.
Is there a risk eating them?>
The dotted line, according to food safety standards, is 45 degrees or less.
If you left it out in temps warmer than that for more than 2 hours, it may be unsafe. You indicated that you left it out for 12 hours, so you surpassed the time. The question is what temperature was it at. 50 degrees or warmer, I wouldn’t eat it.
If you decide you want to eat it, I’d cook the crap out of it. LOL
Does not bother me, the sooner it is cooked the better, like right as you discover it ideally. Ever watch Bizarre Foods, that show will have you questioning “food Safety” vs. USDA “recommended guidelines”.
Personally, I feel worse about taking a critters life and wasting the meat than most everything else in a given day.
I have never had a problem eating birds shot in the morning then dressed end of day but this meat was exposed for a long time. Im getting nervous. It was in the 60’s when we cleaned it and probably didnt dip to 50’s for several hours only reaching mid 40’s by late at night. I read guidelines and while I HATE wasting the meat I am very apprehensive about eating it. Even cooking for dogs. What a crappy situation.
A guy I used to hunt with would drive a nail through the roosters neck into a post and let it hang for a couple of days saying that it tenderized the meat throughout.
No, he was not oriental, lunatic? in my mind yep.
I know pheasant is dang good eating but I would cut my loses before I would risk getting super sick from spoiled meat.
If it looks ok and smells ok I’d eat it without hesitation.
I’d give it away to your in-laws. In a couple weeks, ask them how it was. 
I’ve read about aging birds and would like to try it when the temp is right. Needs to be under 50 with bird undressed.
I’d give it away to your in-laws. In a couple weeks, ask them how it was.
^^^^^ winner!!!!!
Another option would be a PIA neighbor or SIL.
I’m very picky about how food is taken care of, cleaned and cared for. IMO 12hrs at that temp is nothing. Cook it all up and eat it. 100% no worries.
I’d rather eat that than a commercially processed animal any day.
Let us know how bad the diarrhea is. 
If it looks ok and smells ok I’d eat it without hesitation.
^^ this is my rule as well
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>grubson wrote:</div>
If it looks ok and smells ok I’d eat it without hesitation.^^ this is my rule as well
Agree with the smell test. The nose knows.
Are we still talking about food?
Are we still talking about food?
Same principle applies to Tuna.
I’ll let my ducks sit for 24 hours no problem (without cleaning) in those temps. Maybe I’ve got an iron stomach, but I wouldn’t hesitate to eat them.
I’m very picky about how food is taken care of, cleaned and cared for.
Im the same way. If my kids are sitting at the kitchen table eating cereal I will put the milk in the fridge. Its just some weird thing I have.
We ate the 3 that sat all day uncleaned last night and no problem as usual.
I froze the suspect birds for now.
So maybe im dumb but how would cleaned birds in a bag be worse then uncleaned birds with the guts in them.
So maybe im dumb but how would cleaned birds in a bag be worse then uncleaned birds with the guts in them.
I would guess the skin offers some protection? After reading about aging birds its always whole with guts intact. Temps 40-50 3-7 days.
I think there are zero problems as others have mentioned. At the very least, cook it up and feed it to the dog.
I’ve left both cleaned and uncleaned game out in far warmer temps than that for as long or longer and ate them without any problems. If it smelled ok when you froze it I’d think you would be fine. If its going to stop you from enjoying it when eating it, I’d feed to the dogs or toss out. No one likes to waste game but things happen.
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