[Bitsy]

As I posted, I made jerky for my son and friends but it didn’t last long. How long does jerky actually last? I live in the south.

[outofsalt]

Hi Bitsy,
According to wiki it has no expiration date as it is fully dehydrated and cured in salts, bacteria can't grow.
I make batches of 10 lbs or more and my kids polish it off in a week so I can't vouch for this answer but, I will say that vacuum pouching it would extend the time and certainly refrigerating it would help too. In the old days properly cured meat could last through the winter if kept in a cool cellar but, even then, by Spring folks would have a party to finish off the previous years supply.
As a Southerner you know that country ham keeps a long, long time and when vacuum pouched doesn't need refrigeration till you open the pack.