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Old 10-22-2008 | 01:42 PM
  #20  
KodiakArcher
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,877
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From: Kodiak, AK
Default RE: How long should a deer hang?

ORIGINAL: poconobowhunter

so what if you skin and quarter it and let it sit in the fridge for a couple of days? does it matter if the skin is off? or does that play a part in the ageing prosses?
Skin on does not allow the meat to "age". What aging actually does is let enzymes in the meat start breaking it down at a controlled rate. (The temp. and humidity are the controlling factors in the aging process.)

Since I pack all my deer out on my back it is boned out in the field. If conditions are right I will hang it in heavy duty game bags in a dry, cool place until I have time to deal with it which may be 5-7 days sometimes. I'm not sure that the aging process does anything with it, it's more a matter of convenience for me. I have processed and frozen some right away that I have shot in August and I honestly feel that is better meat but I think that's a factor of hormone levels between being shot in Aug. vs. Nov. rather than an aging issue.
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