Meat scientists with whom I have worked tell me that with elk, you're wasting your time and drying the meat excessively if you hang it beyond five days. With deer, they say the same after four days.

Hanging in the skin (as most of us do) is preferable. If you skin the animal, knock a day or two off the the above unless you use a shroud to cut down on drying.


Ben

Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...