No access to private land? Crown land has plenty of opportunities for hunters willing to do the work

PACKING OUT

Hunt expecting to be successful, and have a plan at the ready for retrieving your game. Getting your animal out can bring its own difficulties on public land, and too many hunters don’t give this proper consideration. You may find yourself a long way from a road or trail, for example, or more challenging yet, you may be hunting in an area that allows no motorized access.

Depending on whether there’s snow cover, this might mean ensuring you have access to an ATV, toboggan or game cart. In some situations, packing out your animal piece by piece on your back might be the only option. Also be sure to have on hand all the gear you’ll need, from ropes, come-alongs and chainsaws to knives, saws and reusable game bags, which are invaluable for keeping meat clean when you haul it out.

Also consider the ambient temperature, and how you’ll keep your animal cool until you can get it home or to a processer. Considering all the time and effort it took to find success on public land, after all, you’ll want to do everything possible to get your prize safely home.