If you have been out food before, then you already know how important the need for food is, because you've been reading this guide and learned how to hunt, fish, and trap to have food.

But the unfortunate issue is that the processing of these animals, the cutting, cleaning, and storage, are needed because fresh meats will often begin spoiling within mere hours.

When it comes to cutting up your favorite store-bought meats, the local butcher is often looking to "market the meat for looks" to increase the price he gets.

You on the other hand are more focused on what you get out of the meat source.

For example, in the event you have killed a large game animal, and are out alone, then you are likely going to field strip the best cuts and leave behind the heavy bones to feed other wildlife.

The simple issue of how much you can carry becomes an issue at that point.

If you are not alone or can get the entire carcass of the animal back to your camp of shelter, then you have many more options to consider.

Most butchering will be based on maximizing the total yield of the animal.

Just remember, that all animal parts do potentially have some value, such as the hide for leather, the organs for food or bait for other animals, or bones for soup.

The one major part of this process that should always be done as soon as possible is the "field dressing".

The process of cutting the animal open, generally along the belly to the animal's rectum, removes the internal organs and fecal matter.

While the process is fairly simple, it will change slightly depending on the animal being processed.

You should consider having access to a high-quality knife, and some form of non-slip gloves, keeping these in your survival kit if at all possible.

Make sure to bring water with you to rinse out the cavity left behind once you have removed the internal organs.

For larger gave it will be best to have access to a tree or frame where you can lift the animal if possible as this will help with the process of cutting it into smaller sections.