Also if you look at the twigs over the heart they are actually placed over the bullet strike (at least where I was in Germany). Looking at the stem they are either pointed forward toward the antlers to indicate a male animal or down roughly toward the genitalia to indicate female. Each species has their own song and the trumpeters play the song of each species taken. If you are really lucky there may be a large banquet that night with fun kangaroo courts, much drinking and song singing reminiscent of a WW II movie with traditional hunting songs.

Originally Posted by Andre
Paying honour to the downed game is actually a rather formal event. Look at the pic and you will notice that the animals are laid out according to a very formal pattern, pertaining to species (hierarchy) and sex (direction of the stem of the twig).
[Linked Image]
Forming a circle, all participants take off their hat and keep it on their heart, while a blood drenched twig is presented to each shooter in turn. All the while the trumps (trompe d'Orl�ans = 4.9 yds. long in 3.5 turns) are blowing. The ceremony takes place after nighly toward night fall and the scene is lighted by wood fires. Quite an emotionally laden experience, BTW.