Average cost of processing a deer?
 

I was just wondering the cost, because I have never butchered a deer. Actually I have never even killed one, and if I do kill one, I would like to get it packaged professionally. Also, what all should be done to the deer before I take it to get it processed? Thanx a lot.

Oz

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

Oz,

Well, I would at least field dress it first. But, some people will take the deer to the processor to gut it, I would not suggest this.

When you do harvest your deer and field dress it, keep it in a cool environment until you can get it to the processor. If the weather is not cool enough you will need to pack the chest cavity with bags of ice for the trip to the processor. Your hunting camp should have a cooler to keep game in at a regulated temp which is ideally about 45 degrees.

As far as the cost I usually pay about Sixty bucks for the top package.

Good luck on takeing you first deer!

KEEP HUNTING THE GREAT OUTDOORS & GOD ALIVE, PASS IT ON!

Edited by - jred on 11/06/2002 22:29:09

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

In NJ or its just me I must go to the most expensive place around. I pay on average for my one guy to do it 75.00 and a new guy to do special stuff he wants 95.00. Yikes. BUt just atleast dress the deer and take it to him and you will be enjoying some good eating this winter.

Brian

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

Oz, you should REALLY gut it out first. Everything inside from the esofagus to the anus. Don't get urine on your meat (the deer's urine). Rinse chest cavity with some water when completed. Learn how to do it. It isn't that difficult. Most importantly...once game has been taken and gutted, the temp of deer should never increase! Always decrease the temp, little by little. Put some ice in chest cavity, then some more and more if necessary. I usually pay about a hundred bucks for processing with some sausage and brats maybe.

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

Oz,

I live in Illinois. The 100 bucks I quoted is for southern IL. Up here around Chicagoland 150 is more like it.

I must have it wrapped double in the white butcher paper. Anything in plastic (ziplock or saran wrap holds in too much moisture (i.e. water) and ice crytals form right away. Leading to freezer burn much sooner.

My 2 cents worth.

Now....."Go Get Ya One!"

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

Down here in central Florida, it's hard to find a place that still does it. I have found one...he charges $45, but it has to be skinned and quartered first. I have yet to use him because if I have to skin it, I might as well finish it.

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

Eastern Washington. Most of the places around town charge .45¢/lb. You bring them the deer already skinned and gutted. Make sure you have it as clean as you want to eat it as they generally don't clean the animal at all.

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

Around here You gut it and take it to the butcher and he has it back to you within 2 days very nicely rapped and frozen for $50... I though that was a great deal... Well worth it considering all the butchering takes some of the fun out of hunting and makes more work... Good Luck....

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

We've paid as little as $45 for basic processing and as much as $190. The $190 was for the processors to pull the tenderloins and backstrap and make <u>everything</u> else into summer sausage and breakfast sausage (yielded approx. 150lbs). Pretty good sausage and not a bad price for what they did, but more than I want to pay. My processor will gut the deer for an additional $15, but I do it myself in the field because I think that the meat is better when the deer is cleaned asap after the kill. My guys prefer that the carcass is NOT skinned or quartered because they sell the hides.
You'll want to know where you're taking your deer before you shoot one. That way, you'll know how late they are open, what to expect pricewise, and also how the processors want to receive the deer from you.

Edited by - GoTres on 11/07/2002 10:55:53

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

My buddy has a shop and charges 50 to do the whole deer. 35 to do it if it's quartered. being his friend i just take some beer and he cuts it and i grind and mix my burger. i also tenderize my steaks and package. it pays to have friends that do these things i am hoping to have to buy a thirty pack saturday night. though i usually like to let it sit in ice for a couple days prior to processing i want some meat! i have done it this quick before and on young deer it is fine.

SOUTH ARKANSAS REBEL

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

Man! We must have a sweet deal in Sparta, GA. We pay $45 and all we do is gut them. They do a great job ,too.I usually have them half the loins, cut the roasts and do the rest in grind, but they'll do it any way you want. Sausage and fancy stuff is extra.

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

I pay $55 bucks but my butcher does a great job. he will wrap the meat up in certain qty packages like 2lb grnd meat and 2 steaks per pack and he also will slice the meat into jerky strips for me so I just have to add the old family recipe and dehydrate. Also he is very clean. Nothing worse than cooking some meat up for someone to find a few deer hairs in the mix. that will turn them away from venison every time.

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

We really have it made here in WV.They skin mine ,cut wrapped ,froze,tenderized........$35
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RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

Definitely cheaper in WV. I paid $35 at one place and $37.50 at another. If you want sausage its usually around $25 more. I just take the gutted dear in and they do the rest.

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

We have a local processor that does our steers do our deer. They charge $65 per deer for the standard cuts, and then a little extra for any summersausage, brats, etc.

As far as after the kill prep, learn how to field dress it. You can find instructions on the net, buy a commercially available kit with instructions, or get a venison cookbook. Most will have instructions on field dressing, some even go into butchering.

---
Live: Oregon, IL
Hunt: Knox County, IL

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RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

Around Carrollton GA, it is $45 dollars to process and $12 dollars extra to gut it. There is a higher package for like $10 more, but I didn't get it on the doe I killed last time cause I wanted more ground meat and sausage. it's a good deal

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

Latch on to a friend that does it himself and learn. &quot;My Place&quot; does for about 3$<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Average cost of processing a deer?
 

I think hunters should learn how to do it themselves. I personally gain alot &quot;spiritually&quot; when I process all of my deer myself. Even my wife and kids occassionaly take part in the ritual. I feel that since the animal gave its life to me, I owe it to the animal to perform all of the steps (gut, skin, butcher, pack, etc) myself. I killed it...I should then be the one to fully process it.

Also, I can examine exactly what my shots did. I think it helps me learn to be a better shot. I can also make sure that I cut away the stuff that I shouldn't or don't want to eat. For example, I accidentally spilled some intestinal material when gutting one of the does I got this year. I knew exactly where this spot was and was able to remove it. Had I taken it to a butcher, he/she might not have taken as much care with the meat as I did.

Finally, I am absolutely assured that I'm getting all of MY DEER!!

Butchering a deer is not hard. It's just time consuming and a little messy. Many of the cuts that need to be made are self-evident due to the seperation of the muscles by a membrane. The best advice I can give here is, learn by doing it along side of someone who knows how. I think you'll be glad you did.

-Mike