I'm Done With Deer Processing

[HC Sniper]

I process my own. I like know for certain that my deer is my deer. Plus, I trim everything off the meat before I package. Mostly, I make steaks, roast and jerky. I do grind some for pressed jerky, which my wife likes a lot. Doesn't really cost me anything but time. Everyone should do it.

[Cardinal]

DIY processor here as well for basically since the late 70s. Used a few processors here and there on busy years and just prefer to do my own with my meat and my recipes. Buy you a quality grinder once....one large enough to stuff off of .....and build yourself a smokehouse to cold smoke your sausage. Your brisket smoker will work but the cold smoker yields a much better product. Your first year's savings on 4 deer will more than pay for your equipment.

Hey Smart, can you recommend a quality grinder?

Besides some quality knives/cutlery stuff what else would you consider essential?

[texan4ut]

I do my own. Barely could afford to deer hunt back in the day, much less have the money to have it processed. It takes time but I think it is worth it. Did summer sausage before Thanksgiving.

[crumrw]

Maybe its charging his cranking arm but I wondered the same.

I assume hes actually got and electric motor on it

An alternator is an electric motor, essentially. Apply power to the output side and it'll spin.

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[MacDaddy67]

With processing fees and price for sausage mine came to about $6/pound

[2B4Him]

I do my own and my only regret is that I was too 'tight' on buying my grinder. I tried to go inexpensive and don't have quite the power I'd like. Now I'm waiting for my grinder to die so I go with a 1 hp and get done quicker.

[S-3 Ranch]

Hey Smart, can you recommend a quality grinder?

Besides some quality knives/cutlery stuff what else would you consider essential?

https://www.meatprocessingproducts.com/index.html

Every thing you need is here
And as said above don't skimp on the HP , I personally prefer a hand crank stuffer

[meltingfeather]

Maybe its charging his cranking arm but I wondered the same.

I assume hes actually got and electric motor on it

It's pretty easy to make a cheap motor out of an alternator... all the same components.

[JasonS]

I process our deer, and have been since 08ish. I do use a processor for my smoked sausage though.
We usually get 2-4 deer a year. Used a cheap little academy special browning grinder(I think) for 2 yrs. I bought a book on butchering. Still working on those skills(self taught). I usually trim meat, to get as much tendons, fat, glands, ect, out. Then we make, roast, steaks, stew meat, fry, fajita/stir fry meat. I used to cut the back strap, but now just cut in half and package. I can then do whatever I want with it when the times comes. Most all front shoulder, neck trimmings, and (nonspecial cuts) of the back leg goes to hamburger/sausage. I do make pan sausage. We stepped up to 1hp commercial cabelas grinder a few years ago(sale) and use a cabelas vacuum sealer. I rarely buy beef, literally 3-5 times per, max.
I need to buy a good set of knives, learn to sharpen. I think the supplies have paid for themselves. If does take hours. Skin, draining blood/icing, cutting, packaging. I usually freeze the grinder hunks during the season, then thaw and grind hamburger all at once, like 50lbs in January. I like the feeling of accomplishment, though doing sometimes my neck doesn't.
This is still a learning process for me. I play with different cuts, cooking different ways. Im still playing with my deer/pork ratio in my grinder meat. Its all been edible, lol.

grinder meat:I usually do 4lbs trimed deer, then 1 lbs pork shoulder (pork meat/fat). Sometimes a little less pork/more deer, always 5lbs at once. The meat Is still lean since using pork meat/fat.

Essential supplies: Time, electric grinder, vaccum sealer, cutting board, knives, work area. Though I get away with crappy knives).