I deboned 3 deer. Had 70lbs of meat minus straps and loins. Kept in large cooler with ice for 5 days. Changed water and ice every day, and I kept cooler in back of my truck. I took meat to processor in Montgomery and they charged $2.00 pound to ground it adding pork fat. They said they don't get meat that clean. And I can say it has 0 hair in it and it's not gamey at all

Sticker shock was an understatement. Picked up my sausage, had my entire deer made into Jalapeno cheddar smoked link and medium smoked link, I about had a heart attack. I dropped it off deboned. It was an old buck that was 206 live weight. I dont even want to think about what that sausage me. I did get right at 80 packs.....

Shana is absolutely the best processor i have ever used and her product is legit. She just pricey.

Am I wrong or do you think since they have to report all the deer now they cant pocket as much cash as before, therefore driving up the price ?

Also, I had to drive 1.5 hr to find a processor that would even take my deer. Everyone told me the same thing "We aint taking deer right now."

They probably cant find workers so they have to pay out the wazoo for mediocre workers who are not as fast which increases all their costs which increases our costs as a consumer. Its all Bidens fault

Yeah we’re fortunate to have several pretty good processors around here. I’m not too far from Hunters Gold either. Excellent specialty meats.

My family used the Locker plant for many years. Also used Green’s. I just process my own now. If I need link sausage I have a halfsies deal with a guy that makes great sausage.

Hunter’s Gold is the cleanest operation I’ve ever visited. I think the name came from what you need a lot of to get a deer processed there, but the specialty meat is INCREDIBLE!!!

I think you have to debone it before hunters gold will process it,anybody near Columbus MS Fork n Road is just as clean & specialty meats just as good & cheaper.

If you can get it done under $100 I think your doing good. I got one done this year with summer sausage and some Salisbury steak and cheese and jalapeno burgers. Was $180. Needless to say I don't get everything done like that!

I paid $275 for 2 deer to be processed at my processor but I did get a lot of specialty stuff. That adds up. Had like 5 bags of meat. If you get straight hamburger, cube, backstraps, and tenders, your price will be way lower.

My wife likes Weavers specialty meats. We usually get the loins cubed, 40lb of a variety of specialty meats, the rest in burger with each deer. Each deer will end up at around $200 usually. If i gut it and only get 15-20lb of specialty meats, i can keep it around $100. Since Jennifer is the one cooking it, i just let her decide what we get. Even at $200/deer, its still cheaper than buying any kind of meat at the grocery store. We really have to get à pretty good variety of stuff so we dont get burned out on deer through the year.

Processors have overhead, bills, maybe salaries, business expenses, their expertise to get the cuts you want, specific requests from customers who sometimes complain about "that's not all of my deer!" or other, and they're trying to put a little in the bank for themselves.

They have to put up with government requirements and regulations, and then also (in some cases) become agents of the government by having to track GameCheck numbers. They have to possibly show their records to The Man. They have to make sure their equipment is safe and clean, and they lose everything if there's an issue like the power goes out or something similar.

But expertly and safely processing a deer is supposed to be inexpensive?

Can't have it both ways.

Any of you guys have info for any processors near Selma or Prattville that take quartered up deer? I have used Central AL Processors in the past, but they only take the entire deer. I hunt about 2 hours from Prattville and pass thru Selma, Autagaville on the way home, any info is appreciated.....I am only looking to get some snack sticks and breakfast sausage, maybe a little jerky.....

Check with Ken’s in Autaugaville?

Thanks.....

Talked with Ken's yesterday, said all they are accepting right now is quartered up meat, which will work perfect for me, they are low on storage for whole deer, caping, etc.....

I won’t use them (place in Pelham) again. When they first opened, their prices were ridiculously low but have continued to climb at what, to me, is a pretty fast rate. I also got some meat back from them a few years ago that just smelled bad. I took it back to them and they swapped it out. That didn’t set well with me because it told me I didn’t get my deer back to begin with, which is probably why it smelled bad. The meat smelled so bad it has actually ruined me on deer meat. I can’t eat a bite.

I'm going to hug my processor's neck , she and her husband are former students. Charge $75 for skinning , burger ,slice the tenderloin, and cube the steaks . My wife doesn't want roasts and I'm not sure if they do the snack sticks or sausage etc. For $15 more they will gut the deer . Very clean, vacuum seal in clear plastic . Grider's near Pleasant View.

After reading some of these posts. I’m glad i can do my own gutting, grinding, cubing, and sausage making. That's part of the fun. Thanks y’all.