I don't have anything against a hunter who takes his meat to a processor some and I used to be one just figure there is some art to butchering a deer or other game animal or maybe they just don't have the time but when you do you lose control of your hard earned expensive meat. I hunt because I want to kill an animal and then process it myself. I do all my own grinds cuts specialty stuff like smoked pastrami sausage pepperettes etc. I just enjoy the whole process from killing to grilling and nothing gives me more satisfaction than taking a nice steak of the grill and saying I did that. I look at hunting the animal the same as I do butchering or caring for it post kill until on the table. I sucked when I started hunting and I sucked when I first started to butcher and process my own meat but with time and some good mentors I am glad I learned to do all parts of the hunt myself.
Also glad to hear you at least got your (maybe) meat back.
Now if I could just figured out this taxidermy thing lol