Hunting and eating wild food in T2k (or any post-apocalyptic setting)

[Schone23666]

So, I was watching snippets of "Cooking in the Danger Zone" that was shown on the BBC, specifically the episode where the host went to the infamous Zone of Exclusion in the Ukraine, the site of the Chernobyl disaster. They were talking about the various levels of radiation that still existed in areas, with some of the higher level areas still in places like the Red Forest. They also commented about how nature, in particular wildlife and native vegetation had reclaimed much of the area.

My question would be, let's assume in a T2k or similar setting that you're traveling/wandering near areas that were hit at some point in the war by tactical nukes. It's been several years since the nukes fell, and wildlife has returned to the area. However, you now have residual radiation in areas, and the animals are likely being exposed to it as they're eating vegetation that has been growing in the area and have absorbed the radiated particles.

We'll assume you've got geiger counters, or at least have a general idea of areas to avoid that were exposed to lethal doses of fallout. However, animals tend to wander unlike vegetation, so how do you protect yourself knowing that deer, wild boar, etc. that you shot or trapped may potentially be contaminated?

Also, refugees will likely be more desperate and will eat whatever food they can scrounge, including food grown in areas that may still have hazardous levels of radiation in the soil.

Also, it's not just radiation to worry about. Lingering residue from chemical or bio weapons may have contaminated certain water supplies or soil as well, again affecting produce and anything eating it. Granted most of it will disperse and break down over time when exposed to weather (theoretically anyway), but there may still be nasty side-effects.

So...any thoughts?