Photographing Your Harvest

Photographing a Deer Harvest

›› Show respect when presenting the animal. 

• Wipe away blood.
• Tuck legs under body.
• Tuck tongue into mouth.
• Lay the deer on its side with the exit wound facing away from the camera. 

›› Place your rifle or bow, action open, safety engaged, and muzzle facing in a safe direction.

›› For antlered deer, kneel behind the deer’s head. Hold the head up, facing the camera, at a natural angle.

›› Avoid photographing an animal where it was field dressed.

General Photography Tips

›› Notice your background − look for spaces with no distractions (cars, buildings, people, etc.).

›› Include your friends and family that accompanied you on your hunting trip. Even if everyone was not successful, they are part of the memory of the day.

›› Watch for harsh shadows obscuring your subject(s).

Photographing Your Fowl Harvest

›› Show respect when presenting the animal.

• Wipe away blood.
• Consider the angle of the body, neck, and head when holding your harvest.
• Position your harvest in a natural pose. Avoid photographing particularly mangled specimens.

›› Avoid photographing an animal where it was field dressed.

›› Make sure your firearm is pointed in a safe direction, and the action is open.

Get Creative: For male turkeys, fan out the tail.

General Photography Tips 

›› Be aware of harsh lighting and distracting shadows − when possible photograph your subject in a shady area. 

›› Take advantage of natural beauty around the location.

›› Include your family and friends − even the furry kind.

Photographing Your Catch

›› Always get your hands wet before handling fish.

›› For a fish you are releasing, gently cradle it horizontally and hold it at a comfortable distance from your body before releasing it gently back into the water.

›› For a fish you are keeping, along with the above suggestion, try a few more photos by placing it on the bank or bow of your boat with the rod and reel next to it to provide a sense of scale. 

›› Fish lose their vibrant colors quickly, so don’t wait until the end of the day to get photos of your really nice catches.

While still fun, the old trick of holding it up to the camera to make it look really big doesn’t fool anyone.

Get Creative: Hold the fish up to the camera to show its open mouth and the lure that fooled it. 

Beyond the harvest, the environments in which animals live and you visit are equally memorable. 

As long as you’re smiling — and following regulations — you’ll capture the precious memories of hunting and fishing.