Hone your blades quickly, by straightening the steel fibers that make a rolled or wavy edge, just enough grit to clean the light oxidation from your cutting edges. Bask in the cool points when they see and hear your blades swip-swiping on the steel! Greatly extend the cutting time between time consuming sharpening, or the expense of having someone else do your sharpening.
Put it with your kitchen knives. A quick tune before slicing will make you smile.
Hang it up by the ring near your fish knives and fillet knives at your cleaning station.
Put it in a hole in a post near your game hoist, your processing table, wherever you need a quick tune on your Hunting knives and processing knives edges.
A sharpening steel is standard equipment in kitchens everywhere. I learned how to use one, and if you can sharpen a knife on a stone, you can learn how to use a steel fast!
If you're going to get it wet, or it's going to be outside, keep a drop of mineral oil spread lightly and evenly over it, it keeps my steels bright and shiny.
I don't know what I'd do without my steels! My hunting knife, pocket knives, skinning knife, my fishing knife, fillet knives, even my kitchen knives, prep knife, sharpening up and cooking would Not be the same without them! Try a pocket knife on one, you'll be amazed at the difference it makes!