Game processing around spanaway/elk plains/ graham?

[wraithen]

If I get super lucky this year I will have a deer and/or elk so my wife doesn't pawn me and my guns. With that in mind, I have no idea how to process an animal and my wife knows nothing outside of prepping meat for the freezer so... is there any good shops in my area. I live in spanaway almost elk plain. I'd prefer to keep it close as possible due to hectic work schedules. Anyone got any ideas?

[Mudman]

Mountain view meats I think its called some of my family has used.  Expensive but did a good job.  Stewarts meats in mckenna also. 

[wraithen]

I believe stewarts meats only does their own stuff. Otherwise they would be first on my list regardless! They seem to do magic to meat!

[Mudman]

I believe stewarts meats only does their own stuff. Otherwise they would be first on my list regardless! They seem to do magic to meat!

Call em It was never like that unless they recently changed.  I hung alot of nice animals on the hook years ago. Years ago an uncle worked there and closed at night.  Well he put a bear in the walk in freezer sitting in a chair with his coat and hat on!  He went home.  Next morning Butch opened up the door to see My uncle locked up and froze to death!  Funny prank I bet Butch still remembers!  Stewarts a family friend for along time and hopefully they still do wild game or I may need to find new place as well!

[Bullkllr]

1st- avoid the place in Parkland near PLU can't remember the name right now...

2nd- in the long run you're a LOT better off learning to process your own meat. If you can read up on it or find a video or whatever do it. It's not difficult- it will be time consuming in the beginning but with a few pointers you would do just fine. With most cuts you are simply separating the muscles, then cutting the right direction. You will also be guaranteed a higher % of finished meat- shops would go broke if they spent time on every job that many home butchers do. Give it some serious thought.

[huntnphool]

 I have a buddy that is a butcher by trade and does game for hunters on the side at his home. He is very professional and clean, only does one mans game at a time to insure you get your own processed meat.

 He does all butchering/packaging, sausage, salami, pepperoni, jerky, burger etc. and is very reasonable. The money he gets from doing game is his side money for his own hunting so he relies on word of mouth and repeat customers to allow him to go on his own hunts.

 He has done my butchering for years and is highly recommended.

 Send me a PM if you are interested and I will hook you up, he is in Graham.

[archery288]

I used Mountain View Meats last year off the Portland exit near Spanaway.  They were a little spendy, but they did a great job.  I plan on using them from here on out!

[hunterrcc]

Mountian View is good but got too expensive for me so I usually cut up my steaks and have the rest done in pepperoni  or sausage from Rainier Taxidermy he started doing wild game and has the best pepperoni and sausage you can find.  He does awesome taxidermy work as well i never have had a bad job from him.  He does a great job cutting wild game and is careful to keep your meat clean and you get your animal back 100% everytime. 

[RoyBoy]

the Rainier taxidermy does meat processing also and they are pretty damn good.

[jackmaster]

I have a buddy that is a butcher by trade and does game for hunters on the side at his home. He is very professional and clean, only does one mans game at a time to insure you get your own processed meat.

 He does all butchering/packaging, sausage, salami, pepperoni, jerky, burger etc. and is very reasonable. The money he gets from doing game is his side money for his own hunting so he relies on word of mouth and repeat customers to allow him to go on his own hunts.

 He has done my butchering for years and is highly recommended.

 Send me a PM if you are interested and I will hook you up, he is in Graham.

are you talkn about doug huntphool, if ya are he is the only guy i use as well, except i process my own meat and i just bring him the stuff i want turned into the mouth watering jalepeno cheddar and the terriyaki pep... damn gonna go home and take a couple packs out now....

[Bean Counter]

Are you opposed to learning? There are some good DVD.s out there and you'll be amazed at how easy it is. With the cost of paying a butcher for a deer and elk in one year you can get most of the supplies you need to do it your self, forever. The big tradeoff is the time you'll spend processing it all yourself. It takes my hunting partner and I 2-3 full days to do an elk: cut, grind, vacuum seal, jerkey, sausage, etc. A deer can be done in a day.

[Curly]

Maybe that guy Phool is talking about would let you watch him butcher your animal so you could do it next time?  He sounds like the guy to take it to, but you really should learn to do it yourself as others have already pointed out.

[Johnb317]

I used Stewart's last year for my elk.  They hung it for about a week before butchering.  (did my own backstraps and tenderloins though)
My only suggestion if butchering yourself is to freeze the meet with dry ice in a cooler before moving to your freezer.  (quick freeze).   

[Mudman]

For all ya who are doing your elk yourself how are you hanging and keeping meet cool in sept.? Looking for some tips. Old fridges?

[wraithen]

Mudman that's the current issue I'll have. I will have a place to store meat, but not to hang it. That's the main reason for wanting to have someone else do it. That and idk if work would understand me needing extra days off to take care of the animal. I'm not averse to learning and have been watching youtube for it, but short of one of my buddy's showing how to do the deer, I'm over my head.