After the shot

Remember: If you’re not fully committed to tracking and recovering the animal, it’s best not to take the shot

The hunt doesn’t end when the shot is fired—it’s just the beginning of the crucial steps that follow:

Allow the deer to lie down and expire before you start your search
Make the time to locate your deer, using blood trails and other physical signs. In some cases, more than one search effort is required
Know how to approach a downed deer safely and how to report your harvest using gooutdoorsnorthcarolina.com
Quickly cool the meat by field dressing, quartering and getting the meat on ice to preserve the meat quality. A good rule of thumb: your meat should be cooled to 40°F within 24 hours of harvest, sooner if weather is warm
And once it’s processed, mastering how to cook this delicious wild game will turn your bounty into meals that will keep friends and family coming back for more! Learn how through our Deer Processing classes.