Looking to start butchering my own game meat?

[Wea300mag]

Lots of great advice, once you get set-up there is a lot of satisfaction in doing your own processing.

[dscubame]

A good meat saw is a must also.  Another (cheap) thing that I just bought that is a real time saver is a butcher paper dispenser.  I think it cost about $10.  I buy the huge rolls of paper at Costco and the dispenser works really well with those rolls.  And yes, a good grinder is a must.

Check out URM you may find they are better than Costalot.

[Bean Counter]

Don't buy a cheap $100 grinder. You will get what you pay for and wind up buying a more expensive one!

[Doublelunger]

I think the necessities are a couple of good knives.  a fillet knife for cleaning up the scraps and bigger knife for cutting up steaks.  A few good plastic buckets with lids are handy (always used the 4 quart ice cream buckets from the schwanns man).  A large plastic cutting board.  a good meat grinder (1 hp).  We always used a vacuum packer too, but not sure that its a necessity, keep stuff from getting freezer burned though. 

The benefits of butchering your own game huge.  Your meat will taste way better.  You'll know for sure what your getting. You'll save a lot of money in the long run too.  I hope this doesnt sound too obvious but if you want your game to taste good then be very very meticulous about how you process it...starting when you fist gut the animal.  Keep as much hair off as possible! Once you got it all skinned then pick every remaining hair off of the meat.  Cut as much fat off as possible too.  Its a lot of work and takes a lot of time but in the end its worth it. 

[jrebel]

Just bought a 1 hp #22 meat grinder off craigslist for $250 dollars.  Keep your eyes open and you can find great deals on used equipment.  The grinder I found was only used once and the guy stored it until now.  It is almost brand new.   

[Humptulips]

Seriously to get started you don't need most of what has been mentioned. Oh, they're nice but you can get the hamburger meat ground at a processor. You don't need an electric meat saw because you can bone everything out. The few cuts you need to make can be done with a hand saw.
So that leaves what? A knife and a hand saw. You can add goodies as time goes by.
I like a fillet knife and a heavier butcher knife. A good sharpening steel is a must IMHO.
Get the other stuff like a grinder when you get an oppurtunity for a deal but you don't need much to get started.

[Eli346]

 I do all my butchering in my kitchen on an island countertop covered with a 4'x8' piece of sanded plywood. do all the boning on that and use cutting boards to cut steaks on. Perfect heighth for lessening the strain on the back. We do several deer and elk a year here with no problems.

[Bean Counter]

You don't NEED a vacuum sealer to start out. Squeeze the air out of ziplock bags and over wrap with butcher paper if money is tight.

[bobcat]

Plastic wrap first, then butcher paper over that, is all I have ever used.

[jaymark6655]

Plastic wrap first, then butcher paper over that, is all I have ever used.

  Have heard of meat lasting for years using that method, vac sealers are a waste of time and money trying to fix something that aint broke and not even as good.

[KopperBuck]

Plastic wrap first, then butcher paper over that, is all I have ever used.

  Have heard of meat lasting for years using that method, vac sealers are a waste of time and money trying to fix something that aint broke and not even as good.

Unless you're the world's worst folder. Xmas time is a nightmare for me. I vote for vac sealers because you can use them in MANY other applications where butcher paper and plastic won't work. I did the paper for years, but I love my vac sealer.

They both work. If you're on a budget, paper, plastic, and some masking tape and you're good to go.

[Humptulips]

I never use the plastic, just butcher paper. Lasts until it's gone with no burn so I see no need to change.
Wrap it tight. I have a vacum sealer and to tell the truth the papers easier.

[6x6in6]

2 knives, sharpening stone, 2 sets of home made saw horses that break down for ease of storage, 4x4 1/2 plywood, 4x8 1-1/8" plywood, some butcher paper to cover the plywood, a couple cutting boards, a sharpie and a vacuum packer.
One set of horses and the 4x4 paper covered plywood directly under the hanging critter.  Bone it hanging, let fall onto the plywood.
Transfer the piles to the 4x8 covered plywood based on the cut type.  Steak or roast as you desire and pile/separate by cut. 
Scraps either go into the jerky pile or the stew meat pile.  Jerky pile is done.  Stew meat pile gets divided up into true stew meat and kabob meat piles.
Vacuum pack and sharpie the date and contents on the bag.  If it was a good year, I put the state of origin on it too.
Nothing left on the bone - the dog barely shows any interest.   

I own a grinder and have not used it in probably 20 years.  I just have a better uses for the scraps than burger.  Patience and experience cutting and your burger pile will get smaller over time.

[6x6in6]

Forgot the radio for the music of your liking and a 6 pack of your favorite beverage.
Having a barbecue nearby for a mid-butchering snack is always a good thing too. 

[Blacklab]

Forgot the radio for the music of your liking and a 6 pack of your favorite beverage.
Having a barbecue nearby for a mid-butchering snack is always a good thing too.