Deer processing in Evant area?

[Ruark]

Our place is near Evant, which is halfway between Hamilton and Lampasas north/south, and halfway between Goldthwaite/Gatesville east/west. I looking for a good place to get deer processed - just the basic processing, maybe with some sausage. I tried one place, I think it was Hamilton Quality Meats, and they charge $90 minimum, which is a little steep.

There are quite a few in the area. Some are big, fancy retail meat markets, others are just a farmhouse by the road with a hand-scrawled sign on the front fence saying "deer processing."

One thing that bothers me: a guy who runs a local feed store told me that with most processors, the meat you get back is NOT the deer you shot. He said they make a lot less money processing deer one at a time, and what they do is just throw the pieces into separate piles, then just take some from each pile to fill your order. I don't want that - heck, I don't want somebody else's dingy old deer that laid in back of a truck all day. But he said this practice was almost universal.

That being said, would anybody know of a good place?

[DRT]

In Hamilton use Wenzel Meats on the north east corner of the square. Good services, spices and you can get lunch there as well. Good people. www.wenzellonestarmeat.com

[Ruark]

DRT - Wenzel has been the best deal so far. $60 for skinning and processing, sausage is 2.45 - 2.75 a pound, and they DO give you back the same deer you shot!

[Aboud]

The only way to truly know its your deer is to do it yourself. In my years I have personally seen batching of orders at 4 different processors that claim to do them order by order. A processor with the amount of competition that's out there now a days would not be in business long, as they would have to charge a lot more if they were to do 1 deer at a time.

[DRT]

I process the meat I keep for my family. The meat I donate has to be "professionally" processed.

[quarterback]

Whaley's Processing in Hamilton has done me right for many years. Very good prices, quick turn around, you get your deer back, and he makes GREAT sausage. They are only open during deer season so you won't be getting any goat meat like some places I've used in the past. I am very impressed with BJ Whaley.

They are located on the south side of town on highway 281.

[Charles]

Ruark Processing facility, which is halfway between Hamilton and Lampasas north/south, and halfway between Goldthwaite/Gatesville east/west.

Only way to know for sure you're getting your deer back is DIY.

[Ruark]

I know it's better to do it yourself, but I'm just not set up for it right now, so I'm looking at processors for this year.

[StevensTaxiderm]

We charge $90.00 at my shop for basic processing. But we skin, wash, steak, vacuum pack, tenderize, add beef fat to burger, chili grind, roasts, etc. for the fee. That comes out to a little over $2.00/pound for your meat if its a standard size doe. There is a very big concern amongst hunters regarding batching of meat. Your basic processing at my shop is 100% your deer. However, if you were to order small quantities of specialty items, ie. sausage, tamales, etc... there is absolutely no way for me to make a consistent blend of sausage with only working with a few pounds of meat. Therefore, we batch clean venison to clean venison with usda inspected pork to make sausages. Your meat will be apart of that batch but potentially not 100% your meat within the sausage you get back in your box. I am completely transparent as a processor and dont mind telling you that we batch meat to make quality sausages. I will tell you that we have never accepted a spoiled deer into our facility, nor do we put blood shot, bones, or bullets in with venison trim. A piece of advice... Walk into a processing facility and if it stacks up to your liking, then let them process your deer. If it doesnt take it else-where. Good luck and happy hunting! Also, if you can find a processor that does sausages 1 deer at a time without a minimum poundage order, let me know, I would love figure out that secret.