I just finished a batch of jerky and it lasted about a day and a half. I used a cure and seasoning I got from Sportsmans Warehouse and it was great. The only other thing I added to the meat prior to smoking was to put a little McCormick's Steak Seasoning on it and then smoked with cherry for about 1-1/2 hrs at 225-250deg. I am going to try some goose when the season is over too. My freezer is just about full of ducks and geese, in fact they keep falling out when I open the door. My wife told me to just shoot them when they jump out of there, so I may have to build a blind in my garage for just that reason....scott