How long will deer stay good on ice?

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let it dry age

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refreshing to see someone with sense. So many folks around here talk about soaking their deer meet for a week or two...

You can put it in a zip lock (dry) and wet age in the fridge that way too

Something I find to be the best after many years of trying it all and if you aren’t able to hang in a meat locker:

1. Debone the meat into trim for burger/sausage and steaks
2. Place deboned trim in one game bag and steaks / tenderloin into another game bag.
3. Put ice on bottom of ice chest and place garbage bags on top of ice.
4. Place game bags on top of garbage bags. This prevents ice damage to meat and allows it to bleed out...the blood of a deer is primary source of “gamey” taste.
5. Check on ice n game bags every couple days; I do this for 6-7 days and meat is ready to process and tastes amazing!

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the blood of a deer is primary source of “gamey” taste.

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Just flat out false. All animals have blood. Where do you people come up with this nonsense?

I will dry mine off and put the quarters in garbage bags and leave on ice with the drain open for up to 2 weeks before freezing. I've never noticed a bad smell. When I have room I dry age in my fridge. I usually vac seal the back straps and leave in my fridge for 2 weeks before freezing.

Don't soak your meat.

That makes alot of sense. I’m not saying my process above is ONLY way, it’s just where I’m at now that I’m able to get good tasting venison.

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I know people that swear by soaking and draining for a week or 2. It's one thing to do it that way just because that's all you've ever known, but when you tell me you've had it both ways and it makes a huge difference, I begin to question everything you say about deer hunting and deer processing.

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Up until I was about 20 I would soak for 2 weeks because that is how my dad did it. I thought that the only way that deer meat tasted good other than in sausage was soaking it, frying it, or soaking it in soy sauce and grilling it. It made a huge difference when I quit soaking. It's much better now.

ETA: I would leave a deer on ice and cut pieces off of it until i had eaten it all. I would go through a 100 lb doe in about 2 weeks.

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I am so grossed out by that white deer meat.

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Same here...so grossed out that I only eat it 4-5 days a week.

Just store it dry in the fridge till Sunday. It will taste great!

I've stored them wet in ice for a couple weeks and they're also great.

Either way is fine.