Meat
#12
RE: Meat
I never taken a deer to be processed. Always done it myself. If your thinking about trying it, get with someone who processes their deer and watch, not hard at all. Takes a little time to package but well worth the effort.
#13
RE: Meat
I used to do my own all the time but found my hunting time too valueble so I started bringing them to a meat processor. Its nice to get it all back just like a grocery store. I know $70.00 per deer is a lot when yu got 6 or 7 deer to do a year but like I said how much is your hunting time worth.
#14
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New Brunswick
Posts: 358
RE: Meat
I process my own deer. My dad and I usually do the cutting and my wife and mom help with wrapping. I use butcher paper (freezer type) and double wrap
i completely debone my deer as I do the processing. Any pieces or parts that are going to be touch I bottle. Neck also gets bottled. Rest is steaks and chops.
i completely debone my deer as I do the processing. Any pieces or parts that are going to be touch I bottle. Neck also gets bottled. Rest is steaks and chops.
#17
RE: Meat
Ilearned out of a book. Now I do it all from the butchering to making my own jerky.sausage.burger,venison pastrami to enjoying my endevers. Someone said it's work but enjoy it as much as the hunt.Plus I know it was done right.
#18
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Northeast PA
Posts: 633
RE: Meat
It depends.
My father used to do all of his deer, then later what my brother got. By the time I was starting he was lucky to get the first 2 days of the season off so they all started going to the processor. When you'd come down with 3 deer and it cost $150 total for good work and packaging it was worth it.
Now the last few years, since he retired and I have a little more time off myself, we usually take care of everything ourselves. He does the skinning and heavy butchering and I do the final cutting, we all do the packaging.
But if it's been a busyand no spare time to be had,and a early season/warm weather kill, then we still take it to the processor so it's done fast and there is no worry about spoilage.
(to be noted, that is myself and my father doing everything. my older brother isn't lazy, he is forgetful and .... preoccupied to the point of being lost most of the time. The type of person to show up 2 days late to his own funeral because he forgot when to be there, and then got side tracked on his way )
My father used to do all of his deer, then later what my brother got. By the time I was starting he was lucky to get the first 2 days of the season off so they all started going to the processor. When you'd come down with 3 deer and it cost $150 total for good work and packaging it was worth it.
Now the last few years, since he retired and I have a little more time off myself, we usually take care of everything ourselves. He does the skinning and heavy butchering and I do the final cutting, we all do the packaging.
But if it's been a busyand no spare time to be had,and a early season/warm weather kill, then we still take it to the processor so it's done fast and there is no worry about spoilage.
(to be noted, that is myself and my father doing everything. my older brother isn't lazy, he is forgetful and .... preoccupied to the point of being lost most of the time. The type of person to show up 2 days late to his own funeral because he forgot when to be there, and then got side tracked on his way )