FF,
I don't worry to much about the water around here, as most of the creeks wash out almost every spring. I wouldn't put one in a pond or hole of water that has been sitting very long though. Most of the meat that I cut off, doesn't come from the gut cavity anyway, but I am always careful not to cut meat from around areas that have been exposed, such as wound channels, or exposed gutting areas.
Hell, the way our city water has been here lately, my bath water looks like tea. I would probably be more worried about what I have to wash my deer in, than anything else.
