RE: who makes their own jerky?
I wouldn't use backstraps either. When you get a whole hip off a deer seam it out into Inside, outside and eye of round. Trim these cuts and then slice for jerky. Sirloin tip is always a roast in my house.
Whe I do beef jerky I buy a whole outside and slice it up.
Oh and I smoke mine for about 12hrs...... real low.