Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Butchering, Cooking, Recipes => Topic started by: T Pearce on November 19, 2014, 11:15:50 AM

Title: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: T Pearce on November 19, 2014, 11:15:50 AM: Grew up processing chickens and small game, however once when returning late 11pm? To town with a whole well taken care of Mule Deer. we stopped at a meat cutter shop that had a big friendly sign that said call anytime...... we called, he was pissed that we did (dad pulled away after waiting 30 minutes for him) the next day dad bought the supplies and we boned out and wrapped the best tasting venison ever!
Pasco shop..... I'd like to thank him now.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: jtw on November 19, 2014, 11:30:45 AM: I was taught by my dad who was taught by his, etc. The thought of paying someone else to do it doesn't appeal at all. I actually enjoy making my own cuts and sausage.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: steeleywhopper on November 19, 2014, 11:34:40 AM: To this day my buddies all get together and help when any of us have game to cut. It's a good social get together and the kids get to learn as well. it's a heck of a lot cheaper to do a deer yourself then paying for it.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: boneaddict on November 19, 2014, 11:36:13 AM: Its all I knew.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on November 19, 2014, 11:37:20 AM: The Old Man taught me from a tender age. As noted before it is a grate social event for friends and family! :tup:
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Fl0und3rz on November 19, 2014, 11:49:09 AM: $
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: mfswallace on November 19, 2014, 11:52:49 AM: Quote from: Fl0und3rz on November 19, 2014, 11:49:09 AM
$

:yeah:
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Miles on November 19, 2014, 11:54:29 AM: I was lucky enough to be raised in a family that hunted a lot and we processed all our own deer/moose. I can't see ever paying someone to do it.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Southpole on November 19, 2014, 12:01:11 PM: I had a local meat cutter process my blacktail several years ago. I don't know what they did to it, but it all smelled like they processed a half rotten deer. That was the last time I had a deer processed by someone else. The Mr. had his bear processed by a guy in Curlew this year for a couple of reasons. For one, the weather was warmer than what we prefer for a carcass to be exposed outdoors and it was questionable if we were going to be able to get it back home without it spoiling. The other was not having time to finish processing the meat when we got home. Fortunately, the bear turned out good and we are happy with it. We acutally enjoy processing our own meat. It's as much of a ritual as the hunt itself.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: T Pearce on November 19, 2014, 12:01:57 PM: Besides a set of sharp knives, I learned to grind with the hand crank... #12 I think. I still have it. All greased up and under the counter. You clamp this to a board and I would clamp a 2x6 to the kitchen table (towel under it to protect the table) then clamp the grinder to that.
I guess if I thought it worked that well I wouldn't have purchased the electric version. Gifted and old KA 5 qt mixer awhile back.. mixes 4# divisions with room to spare.
Need a stuffer now though..
Grind cold/Mix cold (partially frozen) I enjoy it
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: bobcat on November 19, 2014, 12:05:35 PM: I agree with the money part, and in addition to that it's the hassle of trying to get an animal into a meat cutter when they are open. Also I remember, many years ago, calling around and hearing "sorry we can't take anymore wild game, we are full."

And again, back to the money issue, spending $100 or more for 50 pounds of deer meat defeats the whole purpose of hunting. I spend enough as it is on fuel, licenses, and hunting gear, I can't justify paying someone else to cut and wrap my meat.

A good way to do it if you don't want to spend $500 on a grinder, is to cut and wrap all your steaks, and take the remainder of the meat in to be processed into sausage, pepperoni, or just plain old ground meat.

I used to do this before I bought a grinder, and I would wait until late December or January. That way I could be pretty certain my meat wasn't getting mixed in with everybody else's.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: BackStrappin on November 19, 2014, 12:07:25 PM: Took One Deer to a butcher in Idaho , Took almost 3 months to get it shipped to me ... I guarantee it wasn't the deer I brought in .

After that I had some help to do it on my own .. It's still a work in progress though each year I should get better at it.

Reading all the horror stories about the screw up's at butcher shops .. That alone should be enough to make one want to learn to do it on their own.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: CoryTDF on November 19, 2014, 12:09:10 PM: My uncle taught me how to do it. I took to it fast and have always done my own. I showed some friends and they took to it now I have a group we all help each other and get great tasting meat every year. The other trick we use is to sample the meat as we cut it. We cook up a little piece of each quarter and test for quality. If it's good, steaks, roast, ect. If it is gamey it goes into the sausage pile. Never had a complaint about bad meat from anybody because I won’t serve it if it's not good.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Bean Counter on November 19, 2014, 12:11:59 PM: I've never paida butcher. I think it was easier to figure out this aspect than actually killing the animal and I just view but butchering as another step in the experience .
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: jackmaster on November 19, 2014, 12:23:11 PM: we cut and wrap all our own game, elk deer bear everything, we know what we are getting when its a finished product, i once took a deer to a meat cutter as i was leaving for a deployment and i didnt want my dad stuck taking care of my animal all by himself, i paid for it all he had to do was pick it up, it was flat nasty, they udes a bone saw to cut it up which drug bone marrow through the meat and it was just flat nasty, that was the only deer that wasnt cut and wrapped by us...that and its so simple to do
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: elkboy on November 19, 2014, 12:28:06 PM: I did not grow up in a hunting family. I had to learn to kill and cut up chickens while I was working in the woods in western Washington during college. When I got my first deer (age 24), I called over a cousin from Montana who was living in Washington at the time. She had cut up some deer before, and we cut and wrapped until it was done. All we did was cut out the individual muscles, and cut steaks and chops across the grain of the muscle, and then wrapped in freezer paper. Some twenty big game critters later, I have gotten a lot better at the process, but the first time was pretty successful, even with minimal prior experience. I'd encourage anyone to give it a shot! There are some good online resources, too, like Youtube videos.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Hornseeker on November 19, 2014, 12:41:06 PM: Im with Bone...

I have taken 1 deer and a few bears to the butcher... all the rest myself... OH heck...except my moose... it was 90 degrees and I was not set up or willing to go through the effort to keep meat cool for the couple days it would take... and I paid dearly and was NOT impressed with the job... ugh.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: robodad on November 19, 2014, 12:46:17 PM: When the local butcher has a reputation for mixing game up and waiting for a full cooler to cut your game and just hanging game way too long you learn pretty fast to do it on your own. If you go into his store and ask for a sample of something you might like to have done to your animal he will take a package of someone else already done meat and open it up, give you a sample then repackage it.

I once had 3/4 of a deer to cut before I went on a trip and couldn't get to it before I left so I took it to him to finish, On my way back from this trip 17 days later I called him to see if it was ready and frozen to pick up and he said they hadn't gotten to it yet and were waiting for a few more to come in to get started on them so I just told him to keep it !! Lesson learned !!
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: birddogdad on November 19, 2014, 12:49:53 PM: the same that prompted me to work on my own cars, mow my own lawn ect.... I guess I am a cheap ***. if I can do it myself and have the time, why throw money away?
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: wheels on November 19, 2014, 12:57:05 PM: you know that your getting your meat and quality control
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: KFhunter on November 19, 2014, 12:58:14 PM: I was still in diapers helping process rabbits, then chickens by the time I was in grade school.
Venison was always processed at home.

Now I'm getting set up to process my own hogs, first will be whole hogs for the low and slow BBQ then eventually cuts too.
Right now I'm not setup for much more than a deer but that'll change soon.
I just picked up a scalding tub :tup:

Within 10 years or so I plan to be a state certified artisan butchery just for selling my own hogs, I'd like to get setup for a post retirement hobby type gig.
I can't stand commercial pork and chicken, :puke:

Just the stink on the meat makes me gag, having grown up on home raised animals I must be hyper sensitive to commercial "meat".
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: RadSav on November 19, 2014, 01:21:46 PM: I worked part time at a local IGA store as a butcher. So I guess it just made sense ;)

When I moved back to Washington I had no place to butcher my animals and I found an amazing butcher of wild game in Redmond (Ulrich Meats). If they hadn't retired I would never cut my own ever again! Loved what they did!! After that I tried half a dozen or so butchers in the Seattle area and another four in Clark county. Not a one of them worth the price even if their services were free! So now, even if we do not have the time we just do it ourselves. Big PITA, but at least our meat is clean, the silver skin is removed and you don't bust your teeth on bones and bullets in your burger!
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: KevinClimbs on November 19, 2014, 01:33:19 PM: I started hunting in 2006 when I was a poor college student and did not have the money to take deer to a butcher. I was hunting alone and had printed out instructions on how to gut the deer. Looking back I did OK other than I nicked the paunch. When I got home a friend (who also had never butchered a deer) helped me do the skinning cutting and wrapping, using online videos as a resource.

Even though I can now afford a butcher I just like having control of the process and learning how to improve that process each year that I am fortunate enough to bag a deer.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: T Pearce on November 20, 2014, 08:30:05 AM: Like someone said earlier. What is the worst that can happen? Steak becomes stew meat?
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Stein on November 20, 2014, 08:39:39 AM: Money and then the sense of accomplishment. It now feels like part of the hunt and it wouldn't feel right if that part was missing.

Another reason is quality and the ability to do exactly what I want.

I didn't grow up in a hunting family and don't know anyone around my area to learn from. A few dvds, Youtube and a general sense that I can learn pretty much anything was all that was necessary.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: pinelockiller on November 20, 2014, 08:48:55 AM: my grandpa always took his to the butcher, but my new hunting partner is a tight wad lol and thank god for it cause he has taught me more this year about hunting and butchering then i have ever learned befor. Also I find it quite fun butchering deer, it could just be the green in me talking but man havin acouple beers and shootin the *censored* with my hunting partner as his 3 year old is watching us butcher his dads biggest buck to date will be a memory that i will never forget!!!
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: RadSav on November 20, 2014, 12:24:03 PM: Quote from: Stein on November 20, 2014, 08:39:39 AM
Another reason is quality and the ability to do exactly what I want.

It is nice knowing EXACTLY what is in your burger, isn't it? "Parts is Parts!" doesn't fly around our place. I prefer to leave that mentality to Ronald McDonald :chuckle:
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Hunterman on November 22, 2014, 10:12:35 AM: My wife is a cheap skate.

Hunterman(Tony)
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: billythekidrock on November 22, 2014, 10:21:27 AM: Unscrupulous butchers, poor quality and cost led my family to process our own. It can become tedious at times, but at least I know it is mine and the cuts are how I want them.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: MuleySniper on November 22, 2014, 10:21:39 AM: My wife actually started eating and really liking wild game since I started processing it all myself. Some of the best steaks I have had in my life were from animals I harvested and processed myself. It pays to take the time to discard as much of the fat, silverskin, little ligaments and what not. You'd be surprised how much better it tastes.
MS
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Moose22 on November 22, 2014, 10:36:06 AM: I am fortunate to have a retired Federal meat inspector as my next door neighbor that is more than willing to help. We spent a Sunday afternoon butchering my deer. We had a great time and got to know each other a little better. Thanks Marty.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: T Pearce on November 22, 2014, 10:46:31 AM: I'll trim and toss what might end up in burger somewhere else.
Dont feed my retriever blood..... I remember probably 15# hitting the garbage last time.
This is why I wont help without the owner being there making those decisions.
A good butcher has probably experienced the same.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: T Pearce on November 22, 2014, 10:49:22 AM: Quote from: pinelockiller on November 20, 2014, 08:48:55 AM
my grandpa always took his to the butcher, but my new hunting partner is a tight wad lol and thank god for it cause he has taught me more this year about hunting and butchering then i have ever learned befor. Also I find it quite fun butchering deer, it could just be the green in me talking but man havin acouple beers and shootin the *censored* with my hunting partner as his 3 year old is watching us butcher his dads biggest buck to date will be a memory that i will never forget!!!
And this Gentlemen is why I hunt!
May we always be green enough to find joy in the mess of our labor.
Thanks for sharing
Tom
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: jasnt on November 22, 2014, 10:58:28 AM: I've always done my own butchering. Chickens, ducks, goats, hogs, lambs, cows, bears, deer. Sometimes we take to the butcher to hang in the cooler over night or so. I have a friend that's a butcher, he is dam good at what he does but I've seen him cut wild game. He treats it the same as cows and hogs. It is not the same! I'll do my own till I can't do it any more, by then my daughter will do it for me
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: RadSav on November 22, 2014, 10:59:25 AM: Quote from: MuleySniper on November 22, 2014, 10:21:39 AM
It pays to take the time to discard as much of the fat, silverskin, little ligaments and what not. You'd be surprised how much better it tastes.

Absolutely true there :tup: No butcher will ever take the time we do removing silverskin and ligaments. Such a huge difference when it comes to deer meat!

Also, you want to ruin a good bear? Just take the band saw to a bear and you are certain to have some nasty tasting bear meat! Something about the marrow in bear bones that will contaminate the whole dang thing. If you ever do take a bear to a butcher request they butcher immediately without extended hanging and that they butcher saw free. If the butcher will not do that...find another butcher!
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: jasnt on November 22, 2014, 11:07:33 AM: Quote from: RadSav on November 22, 2014, 10:59:25 AM
Quote from: MuleySniper on November 22, 2014, 10:21:39 AM
It pays to take the time to discard as much of the fat, silverskin, little ligaments and what not. You'd be surprised how much better it tastes.

Absolutely true there :tup: No butcher will ever take the time we do removing silverskin and ligaments. Such a huge difference when it comes to deer meat!

Also, you want to ruin a good bear? Just take the band saw to a bear and you are certain to have some nasty tasting bear meat! Something about the marrow in bear bones that will contaminate the whole dang thing. If you ever do take a bear to a butcher request they butcher immediately without extended hanging and that they butcher saw free. If the butcher will not do that...find another butcher!
exactly! Most butchers treat a bear as a hog. :puke:
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: lokidog on November 22, 2014, 11:15:44 AM: I grew up in WI, everyone in camp hung their deer at our house. We would get an assembly line going from the garage to the cooler. Lots of wine and beer and a big pot of venison stew or soup was on the menu. We did not do our own grinding or sausage making, however, even back then, my dad would wait until February to bring our meat in as he figures everyone else's garbage had already passed through and it would not get mixed with ours.

I had my moose processed in the Yukon a couple years ago. My first bite of burger had a 1/2X1/4 inch piece of blood vessel in it. :( I have had to regrind the entire batch as I thawed and ate it.

Quote from: T Pearce on November 22, 2014, 10:46:31 AM
I'll trim and toss what might end up in burger somewhere else.
Dont feed my retriever blood..... I remember probably 15# hitting the garbage last time.

But, don't throw out the trimmings. If you have clean trimmings, you can make good stock out of it. With bloodshot, hairy, whatever, package it up in small enough balls to fit in your crab pot bait jars. I turn my scraps into a lot of yummy crab, a trade I will make any time. :drool:
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: jasnt on November 22, 2014, 11:22:28 AM: We feed the trimmings to the chickens during the coldest times of the year. Really gives them a "pick me up". And they thank us with a few extra eggs that week
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Jason on November 22, 2014, 11:23:16 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on November 19, 2014, 11:36:13 AM
Its all I knew.
:yeah:
Same here. Up until I was about 17 I didn't know people actually took their game animals to a butcher, we always butchered our own so I assumed others did the same :dunno:
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: lokidog on November 22, 2014, 11:25:57 AM: Quote from: jasnt on November 22, 2014, 11:22:28 AM
We feed the trimmings to the chickens during the coldest times of the year. Really gives them a "pick me up". And they thank us with a few extra eggs that week

We've done that as well, but I have seen them have a hard time with some of the longer/larger pieces of silverskin. We also toss our bones out for the chickens to pick at until they get smelly and I toss them in the bay (the bones that is.... :chuckle: ).
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: T Pearce on November 22, 2014, 11:37:42 AM: Quote from: lokidog on November 22, 2014, 11:15:44 AM

I grew up in WI, everyone in camp hung their deer at our house. We would get an assembly line going from the garage to the cooler. Lots of wine and beer and a big pot of venison stew or soup was on the menu. We did not do our own grinding or sausage making, however, even back then, my dad would wait until February to bring our meat in as he figures everyone else's garbage had already passed through and it would not get mixed with ours.

I had my moose processed in the Yukon a couple years ago. My first bite of burger had a 1/2X1/4 inch piece of blood vessel in it. :( I have had to regrind the entire batch as I thawed and ate it.

Quote from: T Pearce on November 22, 2014, 10:46:31 AM
I'll trim and toss what might end up in burger somewhere else.
Dont feed my retriever blood..... I remember probably 15# hitting the garbage last time.

But, don't throw out the trimmings. If you have clean trimmings, you can make good stock out of it. With bloodshot, hairy, whatever, package it up in small enough balls to fit in your crab pot bait jars. I turn my scraps into a lot of yummy crab, a trade I will make any time. :drool:
thanks!
How many wonderful crab for a half dozen fresh unnotched tags?
Seriously, next time I trim I'll keep you in mind.
T
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: jasnt on November 22, 2014, 12:03:02 PM: Quote from: lokidog on November 22, 2014, 11:25:57 AM
Quote from: jasnt on November 22, 2014, 11:22:28 AM
We feed the trimmings to the chickens during the coldest times of the year. Really gives them a "pick me up". And they thank us with a few extra eggs that week

We've done that as well, but I have seen them have a hard time with some of the longer/larger pieces of silverskin. We also toss our bones out for the chickens to pick at until they get smelly and I toss them in the bay (the bones that is.... :chuckle: ).
they get picked clean pretty fast but we have about 35 chickens. Then they go to the dogs that normally just go out to the field and bury them. Found a bunch when I was disking it this year
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: T Pearce on November 22, 2014, 12:12:41 PM: Things found when disking around the house....... a topic in itself.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Kazekurt on November 22, 2014, 12:15:27 PM: Cost, 100% guarantee I get my own meat, I prefer wild game deboned. I do use butchers on occasion for specialty items and have received some great stuff from Stacy's meats in Ephrata.
Title: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: The Weazle on November 29, 2014, 03:52:38 PM: I shot a cow elk and couldn't afford the butcher. I borrowed a grinder attachment for a kitchen aid and made it work. Every year after that, for Christmas I asked for something, or cabelas cards. Now I have a1hp grinder, sausage stuffer, scale, slicer, Bradley smoker, patty maker, vacuum sealer, etc. I figure I'm even as of last year. It's taken me 5 or 6 years to get it all, but now it's all even, and I know what I'm getting in my meat.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: James on November 29, 2014, 04:07:23 PM: I like the whole process of hunting. From scouting, actually hunting, processing the meat, making all the sausage/jerky/etc. to cooking it.

I am also super OCD about things so knowing exactly what's in my meat is a big deal to me.

Seems like cheating if I paid someone to take part of it. With that said after shooting a heavy deer and a heavy elk this year I see why guys drop it off at a butcher. I have a lot of time into this right now, a big deer and a big elk is a lot of meat to deal with for a single guy.

I finally decided to pony up and get a 15lb LEM sausage stuffer this year and man it has made a world of difference in terms of speed from using an attachment on my grinder.

Off to finish off my elk sausage!
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Hilltop123 on November 29, 2014, 04:32:28 PM: Fir quills? funny, I'm pretty certain we shot it in a wheat field.....Yes the quills were in the packaged meat.... >:(
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Jingles on November 29, 2014, 04:50:53 PM: Have always except for 1 year processed our families wild game. Helped my father when lived at home and learned then and still do it today. Better quality of butchering as in Knowing what is in the burger, cut the way we want it, and cleaned of all the excess "trash". The one year I was unable to do it I still think I got someone else's meat because it tasted like crap almost like it was gut shot and improperly cleaned.. Threw out most of what we got from the butcher......
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: mossy8352 on November 29, 2014, 04:53:42 PM: My father over 50 years ago in his grocery store and on our farm. We did use the local locker plant once the work was done for controlled long term storage.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: stevemiller on November 29, 2014, 05:40:47 PM: Never used a paid butcher.Ive always butchered my own game.We had a pig and cattle farm growing up so we always did it ourselves.So now I must ask,Am I a butcher if I butcher my own? :chuckle:
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Wazukie on November 29, 2014, 05:48:46 PM: For me, money. If I had to pay to have it butchered, I probably wouldn't hunt :dunno:
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Skillet on November 29, 2014, 06:02:36 PM: Quote from: Jason on November 22, 2014, 11:23:16 AM
Quote from: boneaddict on November 19, 2014, 11:36:13 AM
Its all I knew.
:yeah:
Same here. Up until I was about 17 I didn't know people actually took their game animals to a butcher, we always butchered our own so I assumed others did the same :dunno:
Same story here. Grandpa's shed was the "hanging locker" for quite a few people's deer. We'd set up the butcher table (which was just an old solid wooden entry door on sawhorses, the small opening where the window used to be positioned right above the trimmings bucket) and get to work. No grinder, either - anything not cut into steaks, strips or roasts was jerky meat. Sitting in that shed cutting meat with those old mule deer killers, listening through the bluest of air to stories being recounted time and time again, the facts of which got a little more incredible with each retelling, are some of my favorite memories of all.
I later found out some folks didn't do all that, and at the time I was a little envious of those kids who weren't put to work like that. Wouldn't trade it for anything now, though.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: villageidiot on November 29, 2014, 09:59:35 PM: I agree with all of you. Costs too much, wait too long, bad job, wrong meat. I started out cutting deer on the tailgate of the pickup. As I got older I moved into the wood shop and got an electric grinder. Now I raise my own beef and hogs and have 2 boys and 4 grandkids that hunt and also raise their own hogs and beef. I did what we all dream of and built a walk in cooler 16 x 20 feet with rails and switches and hoist connected to my 20 x 20 meat shop with stainless sinks, commercial grinder and saw. Fluorescent lights, electric heat, it's own septic system and hot running water. Although, I seemed to have acquired more friends that are also excited. My wife is a little perturbed with all the folks I help cutting their meat but I am more than willing to help them because you see I was once in their shoes. I owe everything I have to Gods kindness and mercy helping me over my whole life. To be able to help others with my success is so rewarding to me. I can help hopefully a few more people before I push up daisies but my boys and grandkids will have a jump on this great blessing of having a place to process their meat. Most of all I hope to instill in them the gift of helping others not as fortunate as them. Praise God!
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: T Pearce on November 29, 2014, 10:04:52 PM: Quote from: villageidiot on November 29, 2014, 09:59:35 PM
I agree with all of you. Costs too much, wait too long, bad job, wrong meat. I started out cutting deer on the tailgate of the pickup. As I got older I moved into the wood shop and got an electric grinder. Now I raise my own beef and hogs and have 2 boys and 4 grandkids that hunt and also raise their own hogs and beef. I did what we all dream of and built a walk in cooler 16 x 20 feet with rails and switches and hoist connected to my 20 x 20 meat shop with stainless sinks, commercial grinder and saw. Fluorescent lights, electric heat, it's own septic system and hot running water. Although, I seemed to have acquired more friends that are also excited. My wife is a little perturbed with all the folks I help cutting their meat but I am more than willing to help them because you see I was once in their shoes. I owe everything I have to Gods kindness and mercy helping me over my whole life. To be able to help others with my success is so rewarding to me. I can help hopefully a few more people before I push up daisies but my boys and grandkids will have a jump on this great blessing of having a place to process their meat. Most of all I hope to instill in them the gift of helping others not as fortunate as them. Praise God!
Living the dream.
Bless you friend
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: HunterStrait on November 29, 2014, 10:16:33 PM: I was taught.
Its easy really.
Anyone can do it.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: brew on November 29, 2014, 10:36:05 PM: i don't have any stainless steel equipment....all i have is a table that i put bricks underneath so i don't have to bend over to far...i cut out all of the silver skin and "wang" (which is anything else i don't want to eat)...cut steaks and make the rest into smoked meats....it isn't rocket science
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: j_h_nimrod on November 29, 2014, 11:08:05 PM: I grew up with raising (helping anyway)pigs, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, pheasant, goats, and cattle that we butchered ourselves. Hunting brought in deer, doves, elk, rabbits, and pheasant that we also butchered. I figured that was what most people did, why pay money we didn't have to spare to have someone do a mediocre job for something you can do yourself. I was kind of disgusted when I learned there were many people that had no clue or desire to learn how to do it themselves. I was really disgusted (about the hunter and the quality of the resulting meat) to learn some people dropped their animals off whole (ungutted) and had the butcher do even that simple task. I figure I can cut and package a deer in less time than it would take me to drop it off and then pick up the finished product at a butcher and get a better product than many meat shops turn out for premium $$$. I wish I had a hanging cooler, bigger grinder, and better meat cutting area but I am not complaining and will hopefully have these in the future. Wish I had pics from last night when I was stuffing some Italian sausages and one of my boys got so excited when he heard the grinder fire up that he had to come check it out and then run in and start yelling to mom that "dad is making sausage!" Then all the kids had to come in and give me pointers on how to do it. Can't wait for them to start doing their own in a couple more years.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on November 30, 2014, 11:20:49 AM: Its been a tradition in my family...my dad passed his knowledge down to me and now he does the grinding and I do all the cutting and processing....the only thing I have someone else do is pepperoni and that's only because I don't have the equipment to do it yet....I've shown my friend how to process his from the time he shoots it till it his the frying pan....to me processing it myself its part of the hunt...its the biggest reward to harvest and process my own food
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: swinters on December 02, 2014, 10:19:01 AM: Processing game was a hunting season event as far back as I can remember and we all looked forward to seeing the stack of freezer wrapped meat at the end of the project. It wasn't optional but was fun and something we looked forward to. I worked in a meat packing plant in Tacoma when I was in high school and several of the butchers had individual shops. I remember them saying they didn't need meat from the plant since they got plenty by keeping a few cuts from each of the jobs they took in. That was enough to keep me processing my own game, especially considering the cost of hunting it and bringing it home. I'm sure that not all do that but darned if I know how to tell one way or the other.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: jackmaster on December 02, 2014, 03:20:49 PM: Another thing that works awesome boys is cardboard :tup: I use pieces that are obviously clean, and 15" x 15" squares I have a few stacked together, when one gets soaked and slimy, I take it off and have new one right below it, you will find its way better than cutting on wood boards or plastic cutting boards, and the meat sticks just enough to the cardboard that when your fillet the sinew and tendons off your not chasing the meat around the table :tup:
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on December 02, 2014, 04:04:46 PM: Combination of money and wanting to know how. Killed my first solo, then asked an experienced friend to help - we were both making $671.32/mo take home, and my offer to spring $2.99 for a 12-pack of Schaefer cans was too sweet to resist. Rent was $335, and that remaining $336.32 was stretched across tags, gas, potatoes, coffee and beer. Sometimes all that was left near the end of the month was game meat, coffee and potatoes.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: Jarhead Chase on December 07, 2014, 04:56:57 PM: I didn't grow up in a hunting family. I butchered my first solo deer this year (I'm 30), and I feel like I earned it a lot more. I've shot deer in other states, and had butchers do my work, with very little complaint. My hamburger was much more gamey than I would have liked, but the steaks and sausage were amazing. I will say that I like having my meat that day as well. I waited 2 months for my butcher to ship my meat from TX. I have a venison roast in the crock pot right now that I shot the day after Thanksgiving. Just my $.02.
Title: Re: What prompted you to learn to process your own Big Game VS the Butcher?
Post by: dscubame on December 07, 2014, 05:08:42 PM: The hassle of the butcher experience. Always looking to simplify and just operate daily life easier and more efficient in general. Deer is done in a quick couple to few hours, in the freezer, and cleaned up; elk in a short afternoon.