I process my own deer, so the delay in time is all on me. here is a good article on hanging deer. <a href="http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/other/recipes/2006/01/deer-hang-timeHere">http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/other/recipes/2006/01/deer-hang-timeHere</a> is another article about aging and preparation, in an ice chest. <a href="http://www.outdooralabama.com/oaonline/venison07.cfmBoth">http://www.outdooralabama.com/oaonline/venison07.cfmBoth</a> seem to concur a week is about as long as you want to age it, which is more or less what I understoo