here in mississippi the weather is almost always warm EXCEPT IN JAN.,so i kill skin and put on ice for up to 9 days,that is if i don't eat it up before then .tHE TRICK IS TO KEEP THE WATER DRAINED OFF AND KEEP FRESH ICE ON IT DAILY.bE PERPARED AND FREEZE GALLON JUGS OF WATER SO YOU DON'T SPEND A LOT OF CASH ON ICE. i had a nice buck hanging in my shop that i killed one sat morning the temp was right about freezing so i was going to let it hang a few days,word got around about my buck and a bunch of folks came around to see it,in the next couple of days i was back hunting when i got back home on tuesday i had another deer to hang so i went to my shop to find that someone had left the door open a little and a dog or coyot had gotten in there and filled his belly,i had it hung high enough that he only eat the front shoulders and the neck but it runied my cape.So take my advice and keep it hung very high or behind look and key.