Now That You’ve Made Your Kill, What’s Next

Hunting can be one of the most fun and rewarding ways to spend your time. Everything leading up to the moment that you take your shot is crucial to a successful hunt, but what do you do after you have an animal on the ground?

First of all, breathe! Your adrenaline is sure to be high as the sky after taking a shot, so relax for a minute. Let your heart stop pounding and let your hands stop shaking. Carefully leave your hunting spot and move towards your game. Hopefully, you won’t have to track it very far. Once you locate your animal, make sure it is, in fact, dead. If you are required to tag your animal, place the tag, filled out legibly in ink, on the ear or antler of your game. Next, you must decide if you will field dress your animal on your own right there in the field, or if you will transport it to a processor. If you choose to have a processor handle the meat, your work will be nearly complete. When field dressing on your own, it is important to take the outside temperature into consideration. Pack ice inside dressed animals if it is much above freezing, or pack the meat of your animal in ice. Document your memories by taking some tasteful pictures and enjoy a freezer full of nature’s best.