ORIGINAL: gzg38b
I think it's funny how you guys that freak out about the purity of your processed venison likely have no problem eating a big mac or a steak from the Outback. [8D]
I've never processed a deer myself. I've never had anybody show me how. I might try it someday if I can get somebody to teach me the right way. My dad always paid the processor, and that's what I do.
I just drop it off whole, gutted with the skin on, and pick it up the next day wrapped, packaged, and labeled. It looks exactly like what you'd see at a grocery store. Sausage, burger, steaks, roast, you name it. For $75 that's worth it to me. It would take me 5 or 6 hours to do it myself, and it wouldn't be as good as the professional butcher who does it for me. I can work 2 hours of overtime to pay for it. No brainer.
I have no problem paying somebody to plow my driveway when it snows either. And I pay to get my oil changed too! Does that mean I'm not a real driver? If you take your bow to the shop to have work done, are you not a real archer? Come on....
This is a great post...I'd bet most do this as well. I make no bones about it (pun intended
) I'll use a processor in a heartbeat. If I know the butcher and happy with the work, I'll let them do it. It takes me a long time to do my own as well and I never seem to get it packaged as nice as the butcher does.
I'll continue to process my own deer when I have the time or the inkling...but I have no problem taking my deer to the processors I use...none at all.