GaHunter19,

For probably the last 20 years, I take the shoulders, hams, and back straps off a whitetail and walk off and leave it. In the past I have saved the liver and heart and don't care for it. I have hung deer in coolers for days, also soaked them in ice water for a few days. I believe it all comes down to cooling it before you do anything with it. I've tried it everyway possible, but just like beef, if you can hang it in a cooler for several days it will get more tender, which is nothing more than the meat starting to decay. Some will disagree with this, but that's all that's taking place, we call it ageing the meat.

dog1