Processing questions

Usually a couple days or whenever they call me to come pick it up.. lol honestly I don't process my own deer..

 

Fortunately for me I have a guy right down the road. Now with that said I have been in a bind before we used a hitch hoist and processed right off the tailgate of a truck bagged it up brought it home then rinsed it and vacuumed sealed it. Maybe you could pull this off ?

 

I can break a deer down pretty quick. That is to say that from the time I hang, skin, and cut the primary cuts from the carcass it takes me roughly 30- 45 minutes. I think I timed myself once and knowing the clock was on me I went faster than normal and had one broke down in like 22 minutes.

Once I break one down to that point everything slows way down. Then it’s a matter of separating cuts, trimming out individual cuts, grinding trim for burger, and finally packaging everything in vacuum sealed bags. This process may take up to two or three hours depending on interruptions.

If you add on making snack sticks, sausage and jerky then you add time accordingly.

As far as your dilemma goes, I don’t have a great answer besides; where there is a will there is a way. Maybe a friend or coworker has a place that you can utilize to get the chore done. Once your past the first part you don’t need a ton of room. Just a table and a sharp knife.

 

Where are you?

 

I answered 4 hr. But I don't grind much if any. Steaks, Roasts, Jerky and stew meat. Once in while if I have more than one deer I ll make sausage. I think its a good idea to process your own deer because it allows you see what you are getting and where all the different cuts are. Helped a neighbor breakdown a deer last year. said he wasn't getting a good yield and wanted me to teach him. He would not even use the neck! He was very thankful and I got meat!

 

Id look for more likeminded roommates as a long term solution. I had a roomate that took exception to me cleaning rabbits in the kitchen cause it freaked his lady friend out thinking i was skinning a cat. Pretty sure i ruined her mood. I soon moved in with some other guys i fit in with a little better. Theres rednecks everywhere you go.
Craigslist ad or va hunting forum. Ask for help. I suppose someone here near your hunting geounds may take pity but i gather you want a place in VA.
What are you willing to offer in exchange for a place to cut up a deer?
Maybe someone who processes their own would do it for the market price.

 

I guess I don't know have a vote in poll. Ours gets gutted as soon as we get to it. Then goes to shed for skinning and quartered. Don't take just a few minutes to skin and quarter. Then quarters goes into coolers soaked over night in ice water. Then next day deboned back in coolers for another over night soaking. Then next day cut up ground up wrapped up into freezer. So 2 days and a half.

 

What about field quartering, put in cooler on ice and then debone a quarter at a time at home?

I'd find a way even if it meant taking it to public ground to work it up.

 

<1 hr to skin, quarter, put on ice
4-6 days in cooler on ice
~2 hrs to trim meat and cut steaks, etc
~2 hrs to grind, vacuum seal, in freezer

Next year I'm buying an electric grinder! Did a whole deer in ground this year and I still can't lift my arm lol

 

If I was in that same situation I would say 4 hours. A 2 hour round trip to drive it to the processor and a 2 hour round trip to pick it up. That is before I would quit hunting. With the guide lines you have laid out it's pretty tough.

 

Depends on the weather for me, work schedule. I like to let them a few days if I can

 

Broke plenty down in the field right on the tail gait straight into a cooler of ice in September when its warm. From the time I hang one up to get the hams, shoulders, tenderloins, and extra burger meat off of one im in it about 45 minutes. To further process that into grinding meat, steaks, and roasts add about another 2 hours. If I were you I would find some guys close by that are interested in hunting just like you and give them your dilemma. I'm sure one will loan a garage if needed.

 

Where I hunt usually can bring it home and hang it to gut. Lot easier thst way. But, I've field dressed several when thst wasn't the option