Lady Forge,

I'm sorry to hear you and your husband got hosed like that. There's no excuse for it what so ever.

It sounded like the only reason you took it to a processor was that you didn't have the time to butcher it then, and it was warm outside. If I may, I'd like to offer a tip for hanging deer on hot days...

When field dressing, do not split the breast bone. Hang the deer by it's hind legs, like you normally would, with them spread apart about a foot or so. Stuff bags of ice in the chest cavity and stack them all the way up to the hind legs. Tie in as needed. Wrap the animal and ice in a tarp, leaving it open at the top and bottom for heat to excape.

I've hung deer like this for almost 2 days in 80+ degree temps in my garage and never had a problem.

JRW