Are Deer Worms Normal?

Finding worms or maggots in the nose or head of your deer can certainly be an unnerving experience during your hunt, particularly if you have never encountered this problem in the past. It may even leave you wondering whether the deer you just harvested may have been the victim of some type of virus or disease. In reality, this is perfectly normal. During the warmer months of summer, larvae are often laid in the nasal passages by adult flies. The larvae then continue to live deep within the nasal massages.

Typically, during the following spring, the larvae will crawl out, make its way into the soil, and later develop into an adult. Of course, if during your trophy deer hunting, you happen to harvest the host deer in the meanwhile, what you are going to find is a larvae inhabitant. After the deer is shot, the body will begin the cooling process and the worms begin to move around. This is usually when a hunter will notice them. This presents absolutely no need for concern as the larvae may be somewhat on the gross side but are not harmful to people.