So you have made a kill. Now what to do with the carcass?

So there you are, thick bush all around, and your animal lying in front of you. What is the best way to leave no trace?

Best thing I think you can do is: if possible move your killed animal out of a watercourse before gutting, leave gut piles at least 50m from any stream or watercourse I don’t think it is practicable to bury viscera or carcases – it’s a big job to bury a carcase properly, if not deep enough pigs/dogs will just dig it up. If it is deep enough, it wont decompose.

Some people reckon hanging carcasses to keep them away from dogs/pigs but I don’t think this is a good move either as it slows decomposition. There may be some benefit in opening up the viscera to promote decomposition – but there may be health implications here - don’t do this on possums or animals that are not fresh kills or that you may suspect having disease (theoretically possible to get tuberculosis or brucellosis from viscera)

Submitted by Rob Maclean, general outdoorsman, hunter, Leave No Trace board member