Time, patience, and preparation allow anyone to retrieve a big game animal and ensure it is top quality to feed family and friends. Here are some "Field Tips for any hunter, no matter your shape or size".

Not everyone is built the same or has the strength to tackle getting a deer, elk, or moose from the field to your vehicle and then home for processing. Having a field dressing kit and quality pack for dealing with meat will ensure you are ready and can tackle even the most daunting tasks.

Besides having the right gear, consider factors for females, such as a lower centre of gravity, majority of muscle mass in the lower body, and possibly a smaller build, compared to a typical male hunter. We can take lessons from traditional hunters, like the Inuit, who squat or sit to do most of the fieldwork, keeping balanced and avoiding strain or fatigue on the back and legs.

Meat Pack
Making a pack that can be worn in the field or accessed when successful will allow any hunter to break down a carcass and have it ready for moving. Whether you have an ATV or need to devise a transport plan, the animal will be in portions to accommodate the individual’s abilities.

The important items should include a boning knife, meat bags, parachute cord or rope, tent pegs, and a tarp or plastic sheet. Options include an antimicrobial spray for the early season to keep insects off the meat, a bone saw, knee pads or seat, and latex, vinyl, or nitrile gloves. Matches or a lighter can be valuable to start a fire when bugs or cold could be an issue.

Tackle the Job
You shot an animal, and it is time to start working. Lay the animal on its back. Use gravity in your favour and always have the hind end of the carcass slightly downhill if the terrain allows it. Tie a front leg off to a tree or use a tent peg to keep the abdomen up and exposed. A back leg may also need to be tied off on bigger animals, like a moose. If you do not have enough upper body strength, use the rope to pull the leg into position and tie it off. One loop around a tree will help keep the rope snug.

Field dress the animal and skin the side with the legs tied off. Take your time and keep the meat clean. There is no rush, and working smart ensures quality. Untie the legs. Now, the animal is mostly lying on its side, so you can still use the rope to help provide leverage as you continue to break the animal down. Use the boning knife to remove the front leg and debone it. Do the same with the back leg. Remove the loin or backstrap, followed by the neck, rib, brisket, and other salvageable portions accessible on this side. As you are working, place the meat on a tarp or directly into game bags to keep it clean and organized. Choice cuts can go in separate bags and labeled. Meat for burger can be put in the same bag. Turn the carcass over and do the second side.

When complete, the entire animal will be in game bags. If you need to portion them for weight, make adjustments to distribute the meat as needed.

Retrieval
There are several options for getting meat back to a vehicle. It is wise to have a friend list with willing volunteers who would come out and help. Other options include a game cart or sleigh, which can drastically reduce the effort to retrieve large amounts of meat. A wheelbarrow is a great option. A backpack is ideal in rough terrain or for hunters with great upper body strength.

Always balance the load no matter what you use. Do not take more than you can handle. It is easier to make more trips than to exhaust yourself of risk injury that could hamper the retrieval.

A game cart can be pushed or pulled, depending on your strength and balance, and would be a good option for hunters with a stronger lower body. Use a harness or configure one with ropes across your upper body for maximum torque with minimum effort. A sleigh can be used on grass or snow but is most handy, like a stretcher, to get an animal off the ground and into a vehicle.

Sleigh Tip
Remove the tailgate, prop it on the short end against the bumper, and slide the sleigh and animal up the tailgate and into the box. Use a rope, box-mounted winch or pulley system, or come along if needed.

Other Options
Tie meat bags together and wrap them around the neck for walking out.

Make short trips of 100 metres at a time and move meat the short distance to give yourself a break while going to retrieve the next. It has the same steps but provides many breaks between aerobic and anaerobic activity.