After field dressing game, what is an important step to protect the meat?

Covering the body with cheesecloth after field dressing game is an important step to protect the meat from contaminants and insects. Cheesecloth allows for air circulation while providing a barrier that keeps dirt, debris, and pests away from the meat, which is crucial for maintaining its quality and safety until it can be processed or properly stored.

While other methods such as refrigerating immediately are important for meat preservation, they do not directly involve the immediate protection of the freshly field dressed game from other sources of contamination during the time it takes to transport it. Washing the meat with water can compromise its quality and introduce bacteria if not done carefully. Leaving it in the sun can lead to spoilage, as it can raise the temperature of the meat, making it unsafe. Thus, covering with cheesecloth serves both as a protective measure and a way to help regulate temperature until further preservation methods can be applied.