Other essentials include proper clothing, binoculars, a canteen of fresh water, a compass, a map, and matches. In warm weather you may want to bring a can of ground pepper and some cheesecloth. The carcass may be sprinkled with pepper and covered with cheesecloth to repel flies. Abide by game regulations for hunting, transporting, and storing game. Bleed, field dress, and cool the carcass promptly.
Improper temperature is meat's worst enemy.
The surface of the carcass may be contaminated with bacteria that can spoil the meat unless the growth is stopped by chilling. Clean your hunting knife often with clean water and a cloth to prevent contamination of the meat. Usually it is not necessary to bleed the animal because the bullet or arrow has caused enough damage to the animal to bleed it sufficiently. However, if the animal is shot in the head, it will need to be bled. If the animal is a trophy buck that you plan to mount, do not sever its throat, because this will cause problems during mounting.