Sefer HaChinuch ספר החינוך

The commandment of covering the blood: To cover the blood after slaughtering a [wild] animal or fowl, as it is stated (Leviticus 17:13), “who hunts game, an animal or a bird that may be eaten, and spills its blood, he must cover it with dirt.”

It is from the roots of the commandment [that it is] because the soul is dependent upon the blood, as we said about the prohibition of blood (Sefer HaChinukh 148). And therefore it is fitting for us to cover the soul and to hide it from the eye of its seers, before we eat the meat. As we acquire a bit of cruelty in our souls when we eat the meat, and the soul is spilled in front of us. And with [domesticated] beasts, we were not commanded so, since the blood of beasts is given for a sacrifice of atonement for our souls, and it is impossible to cover [that]. And since it is so, the Torah did not want to differentiate for us between consecrated ones and non-sacred ones. And even while in the species of fowl, there are some of them that are offered on top of the altar, [they are] few. And the Torah never concerns itself with a lesser thing. And because of that, the Torah obligated us about covering the blood of all fowl.

From the laws of the commandment is, for example, that which they, may their memory be blessed, said (Chullin 83b) that covering of the blood is practiced with every bird and with every animal — whether it was at hand or it was not at hand. “Who hunts” is only stated for what is common, etc. And it is practiced with non-sacred animals, but not with consecrated ones. And it is practiced with the koy, because it is a doubt whether it is a type of animal or beast; but we do not recite a blessing on its covering, due to the doubt. And blood that splattered and that is on the knife is obligated in covering when there is no blood besides it. But if there is any blood besides it, he does not need [to do so], as it is written, “he must cover it with dirt” — its understanding is even some of its blood (Chullin 83b). And the one who covers it must put dirt below and above [it]. And any dirt in the world that is fine enough that a potter does not need to pound it, is fitting to cover [it] (Chullin 28a). And likewise, we [may] cover with all that is called dirt — even though it is not actually dirt, such as shaved gold, which is called dirt (dust), as it is stated (Job 28:6), “and it has gold dirt.” And one who saw his fellow slaughter but not cover is obligated to cover; as it is stated about this commandment (Leviticus 17:14), “and I say to the Children of Israel” — and they, may their memory be blessed, elucidated, “This commandment is to all of the Children of Israel” (Chullin 86-87a). And the rest of its details are in Chullin in the chapter [entitled] Kisui Hadam. (See Tur, Yoreh Deah 28.)

And [it] is practiced in every place and at all times by males and females. And one who transgresses it and does not cover the blood of an animal or a bird has violated a positive commandment.