I normally do my own but was curious what y'all are paying for a basic cut to have your deer processed?
Deer processing?
- Thread starter Tn Joe
- Start date
I paid 125 last year. Probably a little higher than average but they are close by. Thinking of trying somewhere else this year.
Wow. I'm glad I started doing my own again a few years ago. But, every time I cut one up, I'm reminded of how much work it is. I don't blame a processor for charging what they do.
When I lived in Michigan, you could get a case of beer and 2-3 buddies to do it with you. Wasn't too bad.
Haven't been able to do that here. I've done some myself. It's a cost vs. time thing with me.
During my brief stint in CT, I took one to a guy and paid $70 in probably 2007 or 2008. I stayed while he did it. He was a butcher at a local grocery store and processed deer on the side in his basement. He had all the equipment. It was done in an hour. It was worth the $ just to watch him work.
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mjwendorf
Well-Known Member
$70 but have to skin deer before dropping it off.
$125 here. The issue in our area is that there are not many people still doing deer processing. They have transitioned to beef and pork or just shut down.
TNGunsmoke
Well-Known Member
Was $80 for the one I dropped off last night.
TnSaw64
Member
$75 for one dropped off yesterday
85 last year,100 this year
Omega
Well-Known Member
Lasy year, Hunters Harvest was $100 for traditional cut (4 roasts, 2 steaked roasts, steaked backstraps, whole loins and the rest in either ground or sausage, will also do 50/50), or $150 for all summer sausage. They offer other services but my friends stick with those two.
timberghost35
Well-Known Member
Y'all should see Masons in Covington. Last year he was $1 per lb base price. My first buck I killed I ended up paying over $240 for a 195lb deer… They are priced like that cause they can. No one else close does deer anymore… I took my 2nd to Brownsville and had it done… it was $115 out the door.
Yep. I spend a lot of time at the kitchen counter trimming, the most time consuming part of the job, but I know it is done how I want it. I am not very efficient, even though I have been doing all of ours for over 20 years.
I couldn't imagine paying $125 a deer, but I know many do, and know some pay way more than that.
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$90 for standard cuts at one location.
$70 for standard cuts at another location but has to be skinned and cleaned.
$70 for standard cuts at another location but has to be skinned and cleaned.
Omega
Well-Known Member
Ever ask them why no skin? The places I have used for the deer I get for friends requires skin on, due to inspector rules (USDA?), if I take one in skinned I have to pay extra ($25) because they have to bump it to the front of the line. They also offer to field dress them ($40), and cape them out ($30) but I field dress any I drop off.
The no skin location is actually a meat market, not just a season deer processor. So yes they have to follow certain USDA guidelines.
Omega
Well-Known Member
Ah, ok that probably means they don't store them, which is why I am told deer at processors have to keep skin on until they begin to process them.
The no skin posts remind me of an incident over 25 years ago when I used to take deer to a local processor, cost was $45 for a deer back then. Anyway, I was dropping off a deer, and a black man comes in in a Cadillac with a deer in the trunk. The deer had already been skinned and the entire deer was wrapped in saran wrap. Kind of got a laugh of that.
East Tennessee Butcher
New Member
I charge a 100 bucks to process with vac seal on all cuts n burger only extra charges is for Cape, skull cap, euro mount, and summer sausage.
Where are you located?
JJ3
Well-Known Member
I use Mathias in Brownsville. He charges $70 for basic processing, $10 to skin, $15 to cape and $25 if the deer isn't field dressed. So a field dressed deer, basic processing is $80. You pay extra to have fat added for burger or sausage or for tenderized steaks. He does a nice job, wrapped in butcher paper really well. Holds up in the freezer for several years no issue. Only problem is capacity and he will stop taking deer when he is full.
DayDay
Well-Known Member
I used Mathias for many years as it was on my route back home. They always did a good job and still are a good price. I went there once three years ago when hunting a different location and they had the sign up that they were full. That was the first time I ran into that problem. Maybe my timing was better during the other years. (Yeas ago they charged $10 if not field dressed then went up to $20 at some point and I see now its $25.)
I started using McCormics 4 seasons ago since it is close to where I hunt and I recently bought a place to stay that is nearby. I used that processor for my buck a few weeks ago; he is now closed for good after the end of muzzleloader season
. I will probably try Mathias if I shoot another deer this season but will call first.
JJ3
Well-Known Member
At $10 I got lazy and quit field dressing for years! Had to get back in practice last few years.I used Mathias for many years as it was on my route back home. They always did a good job and still are a good price. I went there once three years ago when hunting a different location and they had the sign up that they were full. That was the first time I ran into that problem. Maybe my timing was better during the other years. (Yeas ago they charged $10 if not field dressed then went up to $20 at some point and I see now its $25.)
I started using McCormics 4 seasons ago since it is close to where I hunt and I recently bought a place to stay that is nearby. I used that processor for my buck a few weeks ago; he is now closed for good after the end of muzzleloader season
I always call before I go now
