Approaching Downed Game
We have all heard that you should approach any downed deer or other large animal carefully from its rear. But why?
In the excitement of seeing our quarry down, it is easy to forget the power and instinct of these animals. If the deer is not yet dead and you startle it, the animal's instinct is to jump forward, mowing down anything in front of it, including potentially impaling you with its antlers or horns.
Instead, take your time. Watch for any rise and fall of the chest cavity. Are the eyes closed? The eyes of a dead animal are usually open. You can be certain that the animal is dead if the eye doesn’t blink when touched with a stick.
If you approach your animal and it is still alive, it should be finished with a quick shot to the base of the ear. If you wish to mount the head, place the shot in the heart-lung area to preserve the hide.
Once the animal is dead, tag it (it’s the law) and then begin field dressing.
At this time, remember to unload your firearm. We all approach our downed animal with one in the chamber, ready to shoot in case the animal is still alive. But once we realize we have successfully filled our tag, we often get excited and forget that we have a loaded firearm.
And don’t forget to take pictures! Remember that the image we put forth helps non-hunters form their opinion of the acceptability of our sport. Take the time to stage your animal in a manner that shows it the most respect and check your surroundings. The gut pile should not feature in your image.
In the hot Arizona climate, wait to take pictures until after you have field dressed your animal.