How long should a deer hang?
 

Once you shoot a deer and fielddress it, how long do you usually let it hang before butchering it?

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

Depends on the weather. I've read that if it's lower that 40 degrees out you can leave it to hang and age for up to 5 days. I don't do that myself, but I guess some people do. If you've got a shaded shed, barn, or outbuilding, and the temp was right I'd probably let it hang for 3 days.

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

Depends solely on temperature for me personally if 40 and under I'll let hang 3-4 days. I know some old timers that have a walk in cooler and after they are skinned out they will let hang up to 2 weeks . Some of your choicest cuts of beef are aged a lot longer than 2 weeks

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

I don't let them hang anymore because I was told it doesn't help to 'age' deer meat. It is different from beef somehow, but I can't remember the exact reason. I skin while its still warm too because the hide comes off slicker than snot when you do. I've never noticed any difference in taste.

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

As long as it stays cold theres no limit. Once the temps drop below 40 you should be ok. Ive had deer hang for 2 months before butchering. As long as they stay cold and or froze the meat will be good.

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

2 months?

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

My butcher says that a deer doesn't benefit from aging, as there is no fat in the meat; their fat is stored in their skin, so I do mine the same day. Much easier when a deer is warm instead of cold.

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

There is a difference. I let mine go for at least 3 days, up to 7 days. I will age mine in a cooler with ice if I have to. There is no way I would touch a deer that aged for 2 months though.

Aging is simply the natural bacteria breaking down the structure of the meat.

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

I usually do mine right away unless it is below 40 degrees anything above and it is rotting not aging. Deer do not benefit from aging do to the fat content. Mine are done with in a couple days if it is able to be held at the cold temp

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

I always butcher asap. Hanging them for awhile doesn't really do anything IMO other than allow it to be exposed to air born contaminants or insects. The thought of something laying eggs in my deer is enough to give me the willies! [:'(]

However, I always let it "age"in the refrigerator for a few days after taking it from the freezer. You can let it sit in there quite awhile if need be. I've gone over a week on a couple of occasions with no issues. I set the piece on a plate with some paper towels. Once the towel has soaked up a good amount of blood, the meat is usually ready to go.

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

I usually let them go a few days if possible, and often in a cooler with ice as well. I do know a guy that hangs his a lonnnngggg time, sometimes over a month. Too long for me.

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

The amount of fat present, other wise known as 'marbleing', isn't the issue with aging meat.It is the process of rigor mortis that occurs in he firstday or twoand then thesubsequent softening of the meat that follows as the enzymesbegin to break down the muscle fibers.Butchering immediately after a killwill result in tougher eating meat than letting it hang for a few days. Here's a quick overview of the science behind aging: http://www.fieldandstream.com/article/Outdoor%20Skills/Deer-Hang-Time

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

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?

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

We skin and quarter immediately. Then I put the quarters in a refridgerator and butcher it over the next couple days. Your butcher told you that it doesn't help because he wants to do it when he wants to and get paid.

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

I havent been to a butcher in YEARS. I do it all myself. Now and then I will take some ground deer in for some cheese pepper sticks. My deer are always tender, and mine are processed immediately after the kill. I am lazy and I like to do it when they are easy.

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

Hey Hardcore do you still have that Big Bear Chopper?

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

If it's cold enough to let it hang for any period of time, there are no bugs around to lay eggs.

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

We have taken up to 10 days to get meat (caribou and moose) out of the field but it can be a struggle. Temperature is not the sole factor. The major factor is humidity. The general rule is that if it's dry it can be warm (up to 60*) as long as you keep air circulation good but then you have bugs to deal with; be sure to use good game bags! If it's wet, it needs to be cold (below 40*). Of course this means that cold and dry with good air circulation is ideal, and warm with wet is an absolute nightmare that should be avoided at all costs!

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

Depends on the crime.

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

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.

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

untill i get the time to cut it up

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

My doe from this year has been hanging for 10 days so far. My cousin has a walk in cooler that stays at 37-38 degrees. We butcher our deer together, but right now he's in wyoming hunting elk, so whenever he gets back. I had this same question awhile ago, but I was told by many people that as long asyour walk in coolerisunder 40 degrees, you can wait for long periods of time, up to a couple months. I wouldnt wait that long personally, but that is because I wanna start eatin!

RE: How long should a deer hang?
 

This statement is one of the biggestmisconceptions of aging, is 100%false, and is precisely what you want to avoid. Bacteria breaking down meat is called rot, not aging. No one wants rotted meat. If you let the carcass exposed to air at temps much above 40-45 degrees, you will encourage bacterial rot.
What you want is to have the deer in a refrigerated state so that the natural process of enzyme production including lactic acids begins to breakdown fibrous tissue such as muscle. Lactic acids along with other enzymesare the source of the process that makes the meat more tender and begins about 24 hrs after the kill and continuesup untila week or two after the kill.Any longer hang time isunnecessary, but not harmful as long it is in a controlled temperature environment. Bacteria is what you are trying to avoid.