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

Glad to hear you got your meat back. Sounds like you need to have a few beers with your wife's friend's hubby and see what he has to say about processing a buck for you. Maybe even visit in the off season to see how he's set up.

Nice that it worked out in the end. Your butcher must have a ginormous freezer. Where I hunt, a butcher usually processes your meat within a week or 2 and then wants to charge you more if you don't pick it up within a week cause he's hurting for freezer space.

Not venison bacon lol. I just want to try it!

-Jake

I couldn,t agree more with you two all,s comments.