by D.E. Benson*
The decision to cut up a big game animal yourself or pay a professional butcher can be a difficult decision, especially for the novice. Locker plants have the advantage of cold-storage facilities for cooling and aging the carcass.
An unheated garage, porch or shed, where the carcass can hang in cool weather (near freezing or below at night), is required for home aging. Aging can be omitted, but the result is a slight loss in tenderness.