game processing - SW Washington

[dbrenna]

My brother-in-law is venturing here this fall for an elk hunt. I hunted with rifle years ago, but new to bow hunting. In the South bend/ to Ilwaco area, is there a meat processor that could help us cut, package, freeze and ship an animal (assuming we're successful? I live in Olympia. David

[Black Ghost]

I don't know about shipping, but Frances meats is just east of Raymond.

[catwithboost]

Do not remember the name of the place but you can't miss it. It is in Centralia along I-5 going south it is on the right side of the freeway. It is right before chehalis. Hope that helps 

[bucklucky]

DO NOT USE THE BEEF SHOP! They are right off the freeway in centralia, bad place.

[catwithboost]

Well that is good to find out. I use Tom Dick and Harry's in Yelm.

[bow4elk]

Buy two big coolers and fill them with block ice.  Cover them with sleeping bags to insulate them for a few days (they'll keep over a week like this in the back of your truck).

Kill an elk, bone it out and proceed to pack the meat on ice.

Drive about as far as you wish without the pressure of rushing to the closest hack butcher.

The has worked for me for years!  One drive from the Gila in NM to Lakewood, CO.  Cut and wrapped that elk at home and it was ice cold...ZERO spoilage.

YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THAT FEMUR OR SPLIT THE HAMS AT THE VERY LEAST.  All that muscle mass will hold heat for days otherwise.

Hope this helps!

[dbrenna]

Thanks everyone! I'm going with home processing. bought a freezer and will take care of the meat (if successful!!) myself!

[bobcat]

DO NOT USE THE BEEF SHOP! They are right off the freeway in centralia, bad place.

What's wrong with The Beef Shop? I've been using them for several years with no problems. In fact, just last week we dropped off 268 pounds of elk meat to be ground and wrapped.

I hope you're joking. PM me if you like.

[Houndhunter]

johnsons is good, a bit $$ but pretty good. we try to do everything ourselves but they grind are burger for us, and make awsome peperoni

[HntnFsh]

DO NOT USE THE BEEF SHOP! They are right off the freeway in centralia, bad place.

What's wrong with The Beef Shop? I've been using them for several years with no problems. In fact, just last week we dropped off 268 pounds of elk meat to be ground and wrapped.

I hope you're joking. PM me if you like.

Arent they also under fairly new ownership.Ive heard good things about them.

[dbrenna]

thanks everyone. I'm going to stop by the Beef Shop just to know what their sausage types/rates are. I'll let you know what I discover if folks are interested. David

[bobcat]

I can tell you for grinding and wrapping they charged 35 cents a pound. Not bad at all. That was with no fat added. I'm guessing for that it might be a little more, but we don't like anything added to ours.

[dbrenna]

Stopped off at the Beef Shop and they have good prices for cut/wrapped. Also, don't require the deer be skinned; that's good for me since I can now hunt week day evenings and not worry about hanging the meat and skinning the next day; I can just take it to the shop  after a day or two of hanging. $.69 a pound cut/wrap. Only $3.75 for summer sausage!! Love deer sausage . . . . mmmmmmm!

[257 Wby Mag]

I don't think Zumbel "Francis Meats" cuts anymore, just does the custom sausage&peperonni making. I use Jerry Miller, down on Newaukum Valley Rd in Chehalis, or Bolars down in Castle Rock. Both are in the book..