How long do you let them hang?

[BeeMan]

So how long do you let your deer hang before cutting up and wrapping the meat?  Just curious to see what different opinions are out there!!! 
My 7 year old buck hung for about 17 days before I cut him up and he's just as good and about as tender as my 2 yr old buck last year!!  I know people who let them hang for as long as 28 days if temps are right!!  I'm sure everyones got there own opinion, just kinda curious what others do?.....

[carpsniperg2]

3-6 days for me.

[jeepasaurusrex]

Depending on the weather. If its really cold, at least a week. Warmer temps, 3 days max.

We solved the threat of warm weather this last year. We built a 4'x4' insulated room with a insulated door. Picked up a new AC unit that is installed in the wall. Instant walk in cooler. 

[Hangfire]

I let them hang 7-10 days depending on weather. The tender loins excluded, they come out, rinsed amd refrigerated in a bowl of slightly salted water over night. They are then cooked within 24 hours.

If the weather is very cold like last year, the deer was frozen in a couple of days, I will let it wait up to a month, you have to be sure it is completely frozen. The best deer I ever ate was shot in the late hunt, hung in barn where it froze solid. When we wanted a piece of meat we sawed it off. A January warm spell and we finished cutting it up.

Most of my hunting friends say deer does not have to hang at all, cool and cut up in a couple of days.

[gotshot]

I say as long as the weather permits.

[rtspring]

3-4 days never found a real big diffrence in time hung...........

[coachcw]

AS little time as possible for me . I've cut and wrapped in the same day and havn't found any Differance in the meat , but have had bone sour once when i let one go too long .

[Wazukie]

AS little time as possible for me . I've cut and wrapped in the same day and havn't found any Differance in the meat , but have had bone sour once when i let one go too long .

Same here, As little as possible.  I like to get it cut up and in the freezer right away.

[dscubame]

Cut and wrap when I get to it.  I do not go out of my way to age and usually within a day or two the meat is in the freezer.  I do have a few hunting partners that like to let their elk hang for weeks or until it has a full coat of mold cover.  The mold aspect is not something I understand or will consider.

[rasbo]

big difference in hang time,longer they hang the better the enzymes break down.most people disguise the meat so bad ya cant tell the difference anyway..but an aged deer steak is hard to beat..Any butcher that disagrees just don't want your meat in his locker that long...

[400out]

I have been told by my butcher (friend) that the longer you hang them the gamier the meat will be, I cut mine asap possible if you want the natural break down to hapen you can do this at any time 

[NRA4LIFE]

I don't, no matter what the conditions.

[BLKBEARKLR]

I get mine down, I cut and wrap as soon as possible. If I cannot get to it. It goes into the freezer as quarters. I pull them out they thaw I cut and wrap.

Joe

[Jason]

I hang my deer for a day or two.
Growing I was taught by my uncles to only hang deer for no more than 1-2 days. I asked them why they don't hang their
Deer for longer periods of time like my friends dads? they told me that Deer get gamier the longer the meat is on the bones.

Elk I hang for 3-7 days depending on outside temps.

[Alan K]

In the past I always took them to a butcher but the last couple years I've been cutting up my own.  I always do it ASAP, whenever I have the time, and if I don't get around to it in 2 days or so I make time.