Do you process your own deer?
12-18-2008, 05:56 AM
#21
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Blanchester Ohio USA
Posts: 1,269
RE: Do you process your own deer?
I have in the past on a little deer I took when first hunting. I had no idea what I was doing and do ok at best.
But I have learned alot since and probably will try one if I get another this year. My bigest problem is the space to do it. My butcher does one at a time and vacume packs everything. I like the steaks and roast mostly. I don't care much for alot of ground. I eat it I just prefer the other stuff. So I'm thinking I'll get a vacumn sealer and a table and go for it on my next one. Got to make some room in the garage I guess.
Pluss its been several weeks since I shot my doe and I've heard nothing from the butcher. Which is strange they have been great in the past.
But I have learned alot since and probably will try one if I get another this year. My bigest problem is the space to do it. My butcher does one at a time and vacume packs everything. I like the steaks and roast mostly. I don't care much for alot of ground. I eat it I just prefer the other stuff. So I'm thinking I'll get a vacumn sealer and a table and go for it on my next one. Got to make some room in the garage I guess.
Pluss its been several weeks since I shot my doe and I've heard nothing from the butcher. Which is strange they have been great in the past.
12-18-2008, 07:09 AM
#22
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 26
RE: Do you process your own deer?
ORIGINAL: hossdaniels
Yes, but I'm lucky. My family has a monster 220v grinder that we use to grind hogs. If I had to use those $300 P.O.S. grinders that basspro sells, I would have to let someone else do it. A friend of mine bought one(3/4 hpI think)and it took him two hours to grind2 deer(hams/shoulders)! Might as well do it by hand, I told him to throw his deer in the freezer and we will grindthem all togetherthe season is over. We can grind 600 lbs/hr easily. Takes longer toset up/clean than it does grinding. I eat the loins plain, they dont need much help.
Yes, but I'm lucky. My family has a monster 220v grinder that we use to grind hogs. If I had to use those $300 P.O.S. grinders that basspro sells, I would have to let someone else do it. A friend of mine bought one(3/4 hpI think)and it took him two hours to grind2 deer(hams/shoulders)! Might as well do it by hand, I told him to throw his deer in the freezer and we will grindthem all togetherthe season is over. We can grind 600 lbs/hr easily. Takes longer toset up/clean than it does grinding. I eat the loins plain, they dont need much help.
12-18-2008, 07:15 AM
#23
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 26
RE: Do you process your own deer?
ORIGINAL: trac209
yes because i know how it was handled and would not want to get somebodys meat who may or may not have been taken care of like i do. i have heard some horror stories of guys bringing deer in to be process that sat in the bush all night un dressed and they are hoping some other sucker gets his meat. most of the process guys here if not all just give your meat in pounds and not all your meat. i don't like that fact plus i'm a good butcher and like to do it myself.
yes because i know how it was handled and would not want to get somebodys meat who may or may not have been taken care of like i do. i have heard some horror stories of guys bringing deer in to be process that sat in the bush all night un dressed and they are hoping some other sucker gets his meat. most of the process guys here if not all just give your meat in pounds and not all your meat. i don't like that fact plus i'm a good butcher and like to do it myself.
12-18-2008, 08:51 AM
#25
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: On an Island in Paradise
Posts: 23,428
RE: Do you process your own deer?
I do my own and I will tell you why. I control how long it hangs, where it hangs, how I want the meat and how it is wrapped. Last time I needed a butcher I was going on a trip a day afterI killed a deer. I needed to have someone do it so I could leave on the hunting trip. The deer lay on a concrete floor in a cooler for about 5 days and then was cut up with thin steaks and all kinds of crap in the burger. The meat tasted bad and the steaks were too thin to be tender and rare. I do it my way and actually enjoy the process. It takes me about 4 hours from the skinning to clean up so it isn't that bad.
12-18-2008, 10:52 AM
#26
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Texas and Arkansas
Posts: 1,496
RE: Do you process your own deer?
I have done my own all of my life. That way, I know that all of the grisile is gone, and the deer that I shot and the meat I field dressedis the same that ends up in my freezer.
12-18-2008, 12:29 PM
#27
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,482
RE: Do you process your own deer?
I do my own- I've had them processed before, it turned out okay but it was expensive. Started doing it myself about 6 years ago- takes a little extra time, but its worth it.
12-18-2008, 01:53 PM
#28
Spike
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 88
RE: Do you process your own deer?
ORIGINAL: GRIZZLYMAN
I have done my own all of my life. That way, I know that all of the grisile is gone, and the deer that I shot and the meat I field dressedis the same that ends up in my freezer.
I have done my own all of my life. That way, I know that all of the grisile is gone, and the deer that I shot and the meat I field dressedis the same that ends up in my freezer.
I totally agree. My dad, brother, and I take great care with our deer and the flavor reflects it. Often times with a processor, they will give you back the poundage equivalent of what you brought in, and not necessarily the specific deer that you brought to them (this is especially true with grindings). So you don't know how well other hunters took care of their deer that gets tossed in with yours, and the processor might do a very sloppy job with trimming. A lot of them will give you the option of ensuring you get your deer back for a premium, but why pay for something that I can do myself??
12-19-2008, 09:31 AM
#30
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,462
RE: Do you process your own deer?
Ive heard some of the horror stories on how people bring in there deer. I really don't want the chance of mine being mixed in with those type of deer. There are a couple butchers that I know of that really take pride in giving people back there game, so in a crunch I would get them processed by someone I trust.