Maine Firearm Hunter Safety Course Practice Exam

To prevent meat spoilage, you should...?

1. Let the game lay for a few hours

2. Field dress the game immediately

3. Expose the meat to sunlight

4. Pack the cavity with snow

The correct answer is: Field dress the game immediately

It is important to field dress the game immediately in order to prevent meat spoilage. This is because leaving the animal as it is allows for bacteria to start growing and can cause the meat to spoil at a much faster rate. Letting the game lay for a few hours (option A) or exposing it to sunlight (option C) can actually speed up the spoilage process by providing ideal conditions for bacteria growth. Packing the cavity with snow (option D) may also cause the meat to spoil as the snow can melt and create a moist environment for bacteria. Therefore, the best option to prevent meat spoilage is to field dress the game immediately after hunting it.