So you've got yourself a fantastic knife -- and spent a fair bit on it too. It might come with a nice edge, but eventually you'll find it doesn't cut as well as it used to. So you use a knife sharpener, right? Nope. Because it might not actually be dull at all!
How can that be? Well, it has to do with how sharp the knife is. The edge on a properly sharpened blade is quite thin and over time it actually bends. Once the edge gets out of alignment, it blade can seem dull even though its still really got a good sharp edge. The honing steel (or rod) lets you gently put the edge back into alignment and carry on your merry way chopping, dicing, and mincing.
I'm sure you've seen TV chef's do this all the time. The honing rod doesn't actually sharpen the blade, mind you, so if its still too dull after proper honing you might need to get it properly sharpened.
Now, you don't HAVE to go all out like this gentleman, but if you're going to shell out the dough for a premium blade, it might be worth the expensive of having it sharpened professionally. If you're lucky enough to know someone who hunts (especially if they'll give you venison!), there's a minor chance they might also butcher some of their own meats so ask them what they do with their knives. You could also question your local butcher or other friends who are avid cooks about good places to go. I have a little manual sharpener that works pretty well myself, so you don't have to go the pro route.
Last thing about care: Washing. I do not recommend tossing your good knives in the dishwasher. Even if you picked up a stainless steel one, getting knocked around with other flatware isn't kind to the edge. If you've got a steel blade, it can and will rust if you don't care for it properly. A quick rinse with some dish soap and a sponge followed by immediately drying and storing is my personal method. But stay away from those cheap electric knife sharpeners! They really aren't that kind to your blade.
Taking good care of your knives means you won't have to work as hard to make those tasty dishes. Less frustration leads to greater success, from my experience. Plus, its really easy to
