My family and I have been processing our own deer ever since I can remember. We bought an electric meat grinder and a bunch of bags for deer burger. When someone harvests an animal we cut the backstraps out and make butterfly steaks, and we bone out the hams and front shoulders for grinding into burger. Every now and then we will use the hams for a roast but very rarely.

Been doing my own forever. I understand on a "travel hunt" but I like doing it my way. I'm pretty particular...actually downright anal on how its all handled and what does and does not go into the ginder.

I've seen "processors" grind stuff I would never think about, and not be nearly as concerned about hair on the meat, etc.

Personally if you know the facility adn have faith in them and can afford it, I say good for you! God Bless America. Let another man make some money doing what they do best and you do what you do best.

I like to do my own though. My Son (12) got his first and second deer this year. He did the main cutting on both, with help of course. He's a little slow but that's normal. He gets it and now he understands that as soon as you pull that trigger...funs over. Time to go to work.

It's normal for me to spend about 10 hours skinning butchering processing and packing. More if I'm fiddling with hides and heads.

I don't think you are any less of a man than me if have yours done by someone else. If had $ to burn and good person local to do it, I might also....nah. :-)

4-5 hours of butchering??? WOW... I would honestly say 45 minutes-1 hour tops... For a beginner maybe 1.5 hours but 4-5 hours is overkill!! I believe you are getting a great deal at $55 and $65 for that work to be done, but any professional can accomplish this in roughly an hour so your paying them top dollar to do a simple deer.. Just my opinion but it should be part of the hunters responsibility to take care of their own animal.

That axe on the right aint for looks :)

Have a 1 acre garden, a small flock of chickens, and fish all summer, put enough rock fish away for the year.
I dont eat pork, but we do butcher our own lambs that we get from the man up the road.

Sorry, but I do not buy fast food, nor meat at the super market.

Bravo slackdaddy! I like your style. I hear yah, I hear yah!

Nice coop by the way. If I vacationed in that area, what would you charge me weekly to bunk in there? LOL!

Thanks for the reply.

iSnipe

Must be a Virginia thing, I'm the same way. I not critical of those who don't, although I believe its rewarding one should learn. For me its knowing I did it all. Plus, I know how I like packaged and ground. Just picky

Thanks,
I did'nt meen to come on as "arrogant", it was suppose to be funny :)
My next step is "getting off the grid" as much as possible.

Slack

Time to get out the solar panels and windmills.

iSnipe :biggrin:

Who wants to work at their normal job they are at for 40+ hours a week if you can have a beer w/ friends or family and butcher deer in your garage...not me :0)