Hunting Techniques and game care
Stalking
Unlike still hunting, stalking is used when a hunter is following fresh game or animal signs, or has seen game in the distance. These signs might be fresh tracks in the dirt or leaves; they could also be scat or rub lines along a known game trail. If a hunter spots game animals in the distance, the stalking technique helps him or her to move closer and set up for a safe shot. Stalking requires the same approach used by still hunting. A hunter moves very slowly, facing the wind and being mindful of footing to avoid breaking twigs or slipping.
deer divers
In a deer drive, a party of hunters splits into two groups. One group lines up along the edge of the game cover - they're called the posters, and they don't move from their assigned positions. The other group are the drivers. They position themselves on the opposite side of the game cover and walk toward the posters. While walking through the cover, the drivers flush out game animals to the posters. If the drivers move slowly, the animals will also move slowly out of the cover. Usually drivers do not shoot at the animal. This technique is quite effective for cover that is not too thick. Each of the posters must clearly identify the animal they want to target before shouldering their firearm. The posters have to be careful and know their zone of fire. It's important to wear a blaze orange hat and vest and know where the other posters are located. Always check local laws before you hunt.
Game care
Once a hunter is sure that the downed game animal has expired, it is time to tag the animal. Take your time at this stage. A hunter's main concern at this stage is to cool down the game animal; otherwise, there is a good chance that the meat will spoil. Three factors can spoil meat and make it unsafe to eat: Heat Bacteria may start to grow if the meat is not cooled. Start the cooling process by field dressing the game animal as quickly as possible. The warmer the weather, the sooner this has to be done. Dirt When dragging or moving the game animal to a pickup point or a vehicle, keep it as clean as possible. If you are hunting in an area that has livestock, ensure the game animal is not dragged over manure in the field. Avoid getting dirt or vegetation inside the cleaned-out body cavity. Moisture Water on exposed meat breeds bacteria. Carry the game animal over small streams or creeks. Use paper towels or a clean rag to dry the body cavity if it gets wet. Protect your harvested game from rain, snow and ice when transporting it.
Approaching a downed animal
Once you find the game animal, approach it with caution from the rear. That way, if it is still alive and jumps up, you will not be in its way. If you see any movement from the downed game animal, you will have to take another shot at it - aimed at the base of the skull where it meets the spinal column, or in the heart and lung area. Most game animals will have their eyes open when they expire. Be sure to immediately attach any game or harvest tag as required.
Shot placement
Shot placement is crucial to achieving a quick, clean harvest of game animals. Since hunters do not want to wound a game animal and have it run away and not be found, it is every hunter's responsibility to first practice at a range to ensure they can place a shot successfully. Consistency is key. Do not take a shot unless you are certain you can hit the vital area to achieve a quick and clean harvest. If you are unsure, don't take the shot. After taking a shot, wait for at least 15 to 20 minutes before looking for the game animal. Patience is a must at this point. Remember that if the game animal does not drop immediately after having been shot, it will try to hide in a safe place. It is every hunter's responsibility to find any game they shot. This can sometimes take hours if it was a poorly placed shot, but it is your duty not to give up. If the animal ran onto private property, contact the landowner and get permission to go find the animal. With a properly placed shot - in the area of the heart or lungs - the game animal will expire within a few minutes. After waiting, the hunter can start to track and find the game animal. When tracking the game animal, look for signs that it was shot - drops of blood on the ground or on plants are good signs. Take time to observe everything in the immediate area. You might find some hair or feathers on the ground or see a trail in the direction that the game animal ran. It is a good idea to carry some flagging tape with you to mark the blood trail. This will show the general direction in which the animal ran. Be sure to remove any flagging tape when you are finished your hunt. If the blood trail runs out, return to the last clear indication of blood, and try again, moving in increasing circles.
Ground blinds
These are temporary structures that a hunter sets up before hunting season begins. Ranging in size from a single-person blind to a miniature shed-like structure that can house up to three hunters, ground blinds can be a lot of fun to use. The advantage of a ground blind is that a hunter can sit inside it and be hidden from the sight of game animals. They are very effective when set up in areas of known game travel lanes and on the edges of crop fields and overgrown areas. Pop-up or manufactured ground blinds that are enclosed with a roof are good anytime. If it rains or is windy, a hunter is protected from the elements. The disadvantage of a ground blind is if the game animals cannot see the hunter, neither can other hunters. For your safety, it is important that any ground blind be clearly marked with blaze orange to let others know that someone is inside or around the ground blind.
Still Hunting
This is a technique in which a hunter moves slowly through a hunting area looking for game animals. By moving slowly and stopping frequently to look and listen, there's a greater chance of spotting game. It works very well on windy or rainy days. A hunter must take great care with every step. Game animals are alerted quickly by unfamiliar sounds and could run away if they sense danger. Hunters take advantage of all trees, blow downs, thickets and undergrowth to hide movement and to break up their outline in the woods. They are also mindful of wind direction. Remember the old saying about keeping the wind on your face. It's true. Because if the wind is blowing against you, your scent will be behind you rather than in the path of the game you wish to spot and harvest.
Field Dressing
To field dress big game, such as deer, you will need to make a cut in the skin starting just above the anus, and going right up to the base of the animal's jaw. This will allow you to remove the internal organs from the body cavity. Once the initial cut is made, take your time cutting the entrails from the backbone. When done properly, the entrails should come out as one large mass. Most big game animals have scent glands on their hind legs. The glands excrete a penetrating odor or musk. Avoid touching exposed meat if you touch these areas. Leave the glands on, and skin them off as you skin the entire hide later on. Field dressing of small game is a similar process. The initial cut is made from above the anus right to the breastbone. With one hand holding the animal, use your free hand to take out the internal organs from the body cavity. Once the animal is field dressed, allow the meat to cool in a well-ventilated area. Field dressing a game bird takes a different first step. Before making the initial cut, you will need to pluck the feathers from the bird's belly to expose the skin. The cut is made below the breastbone - you may then pull out the internal organs with your hands. Once the bird is field dressed, allow the meat to cool in a well-ventilated area.
Camp and transporting
When you return to camp, hang the game animal from a tree or a specially designed rack. This allows the air to circulate, cooling the meat quicker. It also helps you to skin the animal. The best place to hang the game animal is a shed or refrigerator box that is kept at an optimum temperature. If the game animal is to be hung outside, wrap the animal in a game bag or cheese cloth to keep insects from landing on the meat. Dispose of the entrails in a way that will not offend others. Place them in a shallow depression and cover with leaves, or in a trash bag for later disposal. Once the animal is skinned, wash any dirt or blood from the meat. Next, dry the meat with paper towels or clean, dry rags. Let it air dry thoroughly. If a game animal is quartered, the meat can be placed in waterproof bags and placed in ice coolers. During hunting seasons, there are butchers that will skin and process game animals for you - all you need to do is field dress and transport it to their premises. Make sure you wear some type of latex or rubber gloves when handling a downed game animal. This not only keeps your hands cleaner, but also protects you from getting scratched and helps reduce the risk of contracting infections. Although unlikely, there is always a chance of harvesting a diseased animal. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), Lyme disease, and Rabies are three examples of infections that can potentially be transmitted to humans from a downed animal. Avoid harvesting an animal that appears sick. When field dressing, skinning or quartering the animal, do not cut through bones, brain tissue or the spinal cord. Always wash your hands, and any instrument used for field dressing.