We always put ours in a cooler or a tote full of ice water. I guess I never thought of just setting it on the butchering table. I soak rabbits the same way. I use salt with rabbits, but never have for deer. We like the full flavor though. My wife actually prefers HNF deer as they have more flavor than the deer who feed more on farms than natural browse. Same thing with grass fed beef that is not finished on grain. Different flavor to it.