Be Safe Out There: Taking Care of Your Deer After the Hunt

With the regular firearms deer season upon us and beginning in a little over a week, if you happen to be successful and harvest a deer, the real work begins. And that work is field dressing and taking proper care of the animal in preparation of processing and consumption.

Keeping the meat safe in the field

The moment that the animal is harvested, proper field care begins. After legally tagging the animal, field dress as soon as possible to allow it to cool and prevent spoilage. Take extra care to avoid puncturing any internal organs, and keep dirt, leaves, and debris out of the body cavity. If the weather is warm, prop open the chest cavity to ensure air circulation to cool the meat.

Once you get the animal to your home, the same care continues

If you are unable to process the animal immediately, hang it in a cool and well-ventilated area until you can begin the butchering process. Trim away any areas that are contaminated with dirt or stomach contents, and rinse with clean water.

When you begin butchering, package the meat in portions that you and your family need. Using freezer paper or vacuum sealing is necessary to prevent freezer burn. Venison is a lean and nutritious food source, and proper handling while butchering ensures you and your family can enjoy it throughout the winter months.

Sharing the Harvest

Pennsylvania hunters have a long tradition of sharing their harvests with those in need. Offering part of your harvest to a neighbor, friend, or someone in need helps keep that tradition alive.

Pennsylvania hunters also make an impact on hunger throughout the state. Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH) is a program that coordinates donated venison to food banks across Pennsylvania. Each year, hunters provide thousands of pounds of lean, healthy meat to families in need. If you are interested in donating your harvest, the process is quite simple. After getting your harvest out of the woods, simply find a butcher that participates in the program, drop off your deer and tell the butcher that you’d like to donate to HSH.

Keeping traditions alive

In the end, every step from successful harvest to final processing of the animal, is a chance to demonstrate stewardship of the resource. Ethical hunters respect wildlife by not only following the law but ensuring that every harvest is properly taken care of and consumed. As ethical Pennsylvania hunters, we ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the traditions of hunting in Pennsylvania.