what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

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RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

If the temps are gonna get up over 40* then its a good idea to get it done a.s.a.p.

If the temps stay around the 25-30 mark....3-4 days hanging aint a worry.

Any temps over 50-60 and you better get it done that day....better safe than sorry...skin or no skin on.

Just my .02

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

Depends on the weather. A couple years back I shot one in 8 degree weather. It froze into a block while hanging in the garage and stayed frozen solid for two weeks. Hence, I didn't even attempt to skin it for 14 days.

In 40 and less weather, I'll like to let them hang for five days to a week. Skin on.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

I usually skin and quarter the same day, if its cold enough Ill let it hang a day or two until it is more convenient to clean.

Ive never noticed a difference in deer that hung and deer cut up immediately...it all tastes the same in the end, to me anyway.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

That is exactly the way I feel. There are some people though who just say"yuck" when you say something like that.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

It's been told to me by reliable sources that the quicker you get the hide of and the quicker you cool the meat the better eating it will be. I heed that information and skin my animal the same day regardless of temps.

From what I understand, the longer the hide stays on the animal, the more gamey it will taste.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

We usually let one hang 3 to 5 days if it stays under 40. The wife has had one in the tree for 3 days now I need to process.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

Generally we hang our deer in our basement, where it stays relatively cool. I'll hang and skin them the day I get them and continue to butcher them in a day or two.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

This makes logical sense to me!!

I like to get them hung and quartered the same day and cut up and packaged within 2 days afterwards!!

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

If I could, I'd be willing to let one hang for a week. As long as the temps are below 50* for a high it would be fine. I've known people to leave them until the meat discolors, thenbutcher and cut away the discoloredsurface meat and keep the stuff under, not sure I'd go that far though.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

If its cool outside we'll let them hang 3-7 days

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

skin the deer asap.. i dont like to wait to skin it as it makes it to hard to get the hide off.. when its still warm it jus peels right off.. after the hides off an i clean the deer up i like to let it hang at least a day if the temps permit.. i find it easier to cut up when its been hangin for a while ... when its warm out an i quater up the day i kill it its more "slimy" harder to handle an cut...when its been hung up it doesnt have the "slimy" effect

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

My brothers kids shot a couple at the opening of our gun season (gun season opens on Nov 15th they shot them on the 16th) and they are still hanging in my moms barn. He plans to cut and skin them up Thursday for an 11 day total hang time.

He does this every year as long as the weather doesn't get over 50 degrees. He lives out of town and takes a week off for gun season, whatever they get he drops off and heads home. When he comes back into town for Thanksgiving he butchers them after dinner.

I personally get mine done in 1-4 days depending on the weather.

Chris

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

with temps that fluctuate, from 40 to below freezing, you are better to leave the hide on while hanging ........ we always do and I have people that won't eat venison, tell me how good mine is ,,,,,

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

I agree with Tony, I let my buck from last year hang for 12 days with the hide on in 40 degree to 20 degree weather. The longer you let them hang the better they are going to taste. You should never butcher your deer to quickly, let them hang so the enzymes can break down the muscle tissue! I have one in the garage hanging now for a week, I'll get to him this weekend!

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

I don't butcher my own, but a few years ago I took one to a butcher. I took it in on a Saturday afternoon and that Sunday evening he called and said I could come pick it up. That meat was the worst that I ever had. The roasts where extremely game, to the point that my wife couldn't even stand the smell. Now if its cold enough, I will ask the new butcher to leave it hang for a little. If he does it with hide on or off, I don't know. Since doing this, the meat has been excellent.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

You that take your deer to a butcher .... are you even sure you are getting all your deer ....... heck, are you even sure you are getting YOUR deer at all?

I would advise you guys to butcher your own deer, if at all possible ....

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

I've got one that's been in a cooler (quartered) since Saturday night. I won't process it for another few days. My temp is a little more regulated (doesn't freeze/thaw), but I wouldn't be afraid to leave it a week in the right temps.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

Not really possible. I can't do it outside due to the fact that I don't have a shed or anything to hang it from, my neighbor ask that I would do it(personal that I didn't want to get into) and I can't do it in the garage. (Wife would have to park outside and thats the last thing that I want to hear about until its taken care of. I personally know the butcher, and offer him a few pounds from it.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

Can't you quarter it, yourself....and put the meat in a cooler?

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

may be an option. Have it think about that and check on getting the needed equipment.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

"Equipment"? ALL you need is a knife and a hacksaw!

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

What about a meat grinder and other gear?

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

I thought you were talking about quartering your deer and putting it into a cooler (thereby negating the need to worry about it hanging for long periods of time).

Self-processing takes time and equipment. I've done it.....but don't anymore.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

My bad. I was rolling from Preacher Tony asking why I took it to the butcher.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

Ok, don't take this out on me but heres what you DON'T get back from some "butchers" that only seem to pop up during deer season:

2-7lbs. of hamberger - if made

most of the meat from the lower legs we call chop / stew meat

Have you ever gotten a neck roast??...probably not -

Do you get your ribs?? - probably not....and they are excellent table fare

Watch to see how big the backstraps are...90% of the time about 1/4 - 1/3 are taken.

Ever wonder how if you process say a 150lbs. deer you get about 40-50+lbs. of meat yet if you take it in, it goes down to 30 or so??

Now you know.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

I skin asap!! Get the heat out and let the meat cool. After the meat has cooled, you can let it hang for several days if the temps are cool enough, heck, last year we ate 3 meals off my bow kill buck in Dec. while it hung in the garage! I butcher myself, to make sure all the hair is off and I get the cleanest meat possible.

I've got some buddies that hang their deer in the trees for up to 4 days no matter what the temps. I used to help them butcher but no more. After smelling what that meat smells like, it turns my stomach! When the hide is green, it's been on too long, IMO!

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

I've done them the same day, I've done them hanging up to a week, and everything in between. I could never tell the difference in the quality of the meat. I'll butcher the deer when I have enough time to. I'll usually skin and quarter one day and trim and package another day. One thing I always do is leave the hide on untill I can get to quartering it at least. I don't like the thought of the meat hanging there with dust, bugs, air (drying out) etc... getting at it. The hide protects the meat IMO. Never noticed a gamey taste by leaving it on.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

Only long enough to get a knife on it, usually right away.I don't believe in the hanging for days to break down the muscle and whatnot.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

I didn't vote becuase it all depends on conditions. I will wait up to 7 days or so if the weather is cold and there is no chance of spoilage. Temps 40 and under. If it's hot say above 55 then I will skin and quarter it right away.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

You didn't have an "hour" vote; so I couldn't vote. One day is too long for me. Too cold and hard to skin after a day. I do mine within hours and it goes like a dream. As procrastinators, we like to put things off, but a warm deer is an easy deer.

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

Its cold enough here for most of the season to let them hang for a few days, but generally if I have time I like to take care of them ASAP, regardless of temps. Just to get it out of the way...

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

Yea, that comment will NEVER come back to haunt you...;):D

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

all over the place i would say 3 days i read on three differnt butcher sites that due to the low fat containt of eer meat leaving it out more then three days is pointless.
I did not plan to age any deer i killed but my neighoor did his for a day it sit in my frige for a day then two days after thawing seemed to taste alot better then the stuff i eat the day he skinned it and gave me some

RE: what is the longest you would wait to skin a deer and get the meat off it
 

Depends on the temp.. I let one hang for 2 weeks one time when it froze solid, skint it out once it thawed.