Date: 10/8/08
Contact: C. Douglas Nielsen
Phone: (702) 486-5127, ext. 3500

FIELD CARE KEY TO TASTY TABLE FARE

Upland game and waterfowl seasons are now officially under way throughout much of the Silver State. As hunters bag their game, it’s important to remember the key to turning game into tasty table fare is proper care in the field.

“The rule for taking care of game is really quite simple,” said Martin Olson, Hunter Education Coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. “Keep it clean. Keep it cool. Keep it dry.”

Hunters, he said, should field dress their birds or rabbits as soon as they retrieve them. This is especially important during the early part of the season when daytime temperatures are still warm. It only takes a minute to gut the bird and remove the crop before placing it in a game bag or in a cooler. The area surrounding the crop is often the first to go bad.

Another important thing to keep in mind is to not pile up warm birds. Field dressing will help to cool them out, but some hunters will pick up their bird or rabbit and place them in their game bag without dressing them. Doing so creates a situation where the birds remain warm, Olson said.

“As soon as possible, hunters should hang their dressed birds or rabbits in a shaded area where air can circulate and cool the birds. Once the bird is cooled, they can be placed in a cooler with a frozen jug of water so the birds stay dry yet cool,” said Olson.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.