Post-processing question for the green screen

[JonBoy]

I have a question regarding processing your own animals and would love some input especially if you're a GW.

I'm toying with the idea of processing my own deer this year. I was fortunate enough to take a nice spike buck this past weekend and am going to try my hand at roasting out the hams and making chunk stew meat from the rest...should be pretty easy.

My question is, after everything is vacuum packed, frozen and in the freezer should I want to have some of the chunk meat turned into sausage at a later date do I have to do this myself or is it legal to bring post-processed packaged meat to a processor and pay them to make some sausage for me?

I know there are specific rules in the outdoor annual about not transporting a carcass past quarters until it gets to its final processing destination but it doesn't talk about what you can do after its been "processed". Any help is greatly appreciated!

[SwampRabbit]

BTW, that is a great question. I'm curious to know the answer as well.

[JonBoy]

No thoughts on this?

[czechaholic]

Great question....I got no answer, but my thoughts would be that you can't do it.....

[TxBrokenTine]

I have people bring de-meat to me at my processing facility all the time for sausage. It's just like dropping off quarters or a carcass. Make SURE to take the tag with the meat.

[SaltwaterSlick]

Got a buddy that does this every year... any meat left over that was not eaten during the year gets taken to processor for sausage making... It is frozen and dated. I don't see anything wrong with it myseff, but then I ain't no GW neither... ... be a real jerk to stick a feller for that in my humble opinion...

[OrangeBlood]

if you got a grinder, go to the grocery store and get some bacon tips & ends and grind it in to make your own sausage. Did this yesterday and cooked some up right after and it was delicous.

[JonBoy]

This is from TPWD website:

Transfer of Wildlife

A person may give, leave, receive, or possess any species of legally taken wildlife resource, or part of the resource, that is required to have a tag or permit attached or that is protected by a bag or possession limit if the wildlife resource is accompanied by a Wildlife Resource Document (WRD) from the person who killed or caught the wildlife resource.

I'm thinking if I dropped off the meat with the processor after I've already processed it but gave them a Wildlife Resource Document to go with the meat I would have covered all my bases. I guess I'm just going to have to call a warden and ask them personally.

[JonBoy]

I have people bring de-meat to me at my processing facility all the time for sausage. It's just like dropping off quarters or a carcass. Make SURE to take the tag with the meat.

I guess I could just save my tags and make sure I know what deer went with what meat

Edit: My problem isn't with giving documentation of the deer, its is it legal to transport the animal past quarters to a processor even though its already been "processed" at your home.

[TUCO]

Whoops...Misread your post...

I thought you were talking about processing at your camp.

I would think you would be able to transpost the meat after it has been processed at its final destination (your home) without any worries.

I would just make sure the packages are dated, and the tag accompanies the meat just in case you get checked.

[JonBoy]

I looked into this a few years back.

If you have a PERMANENT processing facility on the premisis you can cut your deer up as you please.

Permanent does not mean a few lay down freezers, or a refrigeration unit that can be transported.

You pretty much need a walk in type cooler on a slab.

Wait so if I bring my meat home in quarters, cut up my own meat, bag it and put it in my freezer my home still doesn't count as the "final destination" for processing? Something about that doesn't sound right...not saying you're wrong just that I'm confused as all heck now

[Free2Hunt]

I don't know the legal answer, but I can tell you that I typically take any ground meat I have left to a processor and get it turned into sausage. I have never provided, or been asked to provide, a tag or any other type of documentation. The meat was all frozen and in individual, sealed bags. About two weeks later they call me and I come pick it up. Legal, IDK, but if it was not I assume the processor would require a tag or a transfer document and I have never been asked for one. I don't see this as being any different than me giving my buddy or family meat that has been "Final Processed" I don't give them documentation either.

[TUCO]

Wait so if I bring my meat home in quarters, cut up my own meat, bag it and put it in my freezer my home still doesn't count as the "final destination" for processing? Something about that doesn't sound right...not saying you're wrong just that I'm confused as all heck now

Sorry for the confusion.....Edited above post.....

[JonBoy]

Whoops...Misread your post...

I thought you were talking about processing at your camp.

I would think you would be able to transpost the meat after it has been processed at its final destination (your home) without any worries.

I would just make sure the packages are dated, and the tag accompanies the meat just in case you get checked.

No worries...I'm thinking the same thing but I think I'm going to put a call into one of the local GWs just in case I'll let ya'll know what the "official" answer is once I get in touch with him.

[SwampRabbit]

Here is my read on it, but I want to compare to what the GW says:

You need to have the transfer document whenever you transfer it in a condition for which a tag would be required. That means on carcass, in quarters, etc. Once it is beyond that state it is then considered "processed."

You are not allowed to "process" it until you reach your final destination. But once processed (deboned) then you are no longer required to have the documentation to transfer.

So, if you freeze a quarter completely and then thaw it out and bring it to the processor, it is in my opinion it is not in processed condition and you should fill out the paperwork. If you deboned it and took it, you would not be required to do anything because it is already processed.

That is my opinion... so now I would like to know what the GW says.....