Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Hunting Discussion

View Poll Results: Did you process your own big game harvest or did you pay a butcher?
I processed my own harvest 231 84.31%
I paid a butcher to process it for me 43 15.69%
Voters: 274. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-20-2018, 08:25 PM
madball's Avatar
madball madball is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Thorhild County
Posts: 576
Default Butchering Poll, Info Request!

I'm hoping to get some insight from everyone on how you processed your big game harvest this year!

Did you process your own animal or did you pay a butcher to do it?

For those of you that paid a butcher would you mind letting me know the following info?

1) Species -
2) Primal Cuts(Steak, Roast, Ground) or Sausage/Jerky Too? -
3) Total Cost from Butcher -
4) Overall Experience - (are you satisfied with what you got for what you paid for it?)

If you don't want to put this info out publicly and wouldn't mind shooting me a PM about it that would be appreciated too!

Thanks in advance everyone!
__________________
The farther one gets into the wilderness, the greater is the attraction of its lonely freedom.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-20-2018, 08:36 PM
Slicktricker Slicktricker is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,338
Default

I took my elk into Yukon sausage last year bill was 422 very happy with it. I do usually do my own butchering and help lots of friends out. I can debone and do steaks and roasts pretty quick. I charge them 2 tins of chew or 50 bucks for elk or moose lol did a friends moose in less then 2 hours his wife did the burger
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-20-2018, 08:39 PM
CNP's Avatar
CNP CNP is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: WMU 303
Posts: 8,480
Default

Cut an antelope, sheep, WT in season last year and a wild boar just yesterday.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-20-2018, 09:16 PM
Norwest Alta Norwest Alta is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,666
Default

Pretty much do it all myself with help if it’s available except sausage making.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-20-2018, 09:20 PM
openfire's Avatar
openfire openfire is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Cochrane
Posts: 764
Default

My first year hunting I paid a butcher (5 years ago)
It was a whitetail
The butcher was Irricana Meats.
I can't remember all the cuts but I do remember how good the sausage was ! Especial the maple one.

Hope that helps, there is a great episode of meat eater on netflix that goes over how to do your own deer FYI
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-20-2018, 09:56 PM
RandyBoBandy RandyBoBandy is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 9,981
Default

Our group process's all of our game, except for the sausage making, which is done at Victoria Fancy Sausage
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-20-2018, 10:01 PM
rottie's Avatar
rottie rottie is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Lacombe
Posts: 2,462
Default

Other than sausage making, I do all my own processing
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-20-2018, 10:04 PM
alacringa's Avatar
alacringa alacringa is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: With my dogs
Posts: 4,545
Default

Always do my own. Way too much $ to go to a butcher.
__________________
alacringa

"This Brittany is my most cherished possession — the darndest bird-finder I have ever seen, a tough and wiry little dog with a choke-bored nose and the ability to read birds’ minds." -Jack O'Connor
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-20-2018, 10:24 PM
Duramaximos Duramaximos is offline
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,529
Default

I butcher all mine.

Im curious to know why so many of you dont make your own sausages?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-20-2018, 11:17 PM
brewster29 brewster29 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: East Kootenays, BC
Posts: 1,159
Default

Made my first sausages (bratwurst) last week. They were excellent. Bought pork leg on sale at Save-on for $1.29 per lb- much cheaper and nicer than buying trim.

Lots of good recipes and info on line.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 02-21-2018, 12:01 AM
openfire's Avatar
openfire openfire is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Cochrane
Posts: 764
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Duramaximos View Post
I butcher all mine.

Im curious to know why so many of you dont make your own sausages?
The answer is time. Well at the time. Crying babies that steal your sleep. A toddler and wife that want what little time you can give them because of work...
I do my own now though.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 02-21-2018, 09:07 AM
Bulldog Edm Bulldog Edm is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 616
Default

Me and mu hunting partner have only been hunting a few years now. We butcher ourselves. Learnt from watching YouTube videos. So far we've done a moose and 6 deer. Made my own sausage, pepperoni and jerky. It's all pretty simple.
__________________
I used to walk into a room full of people and wonder if they like me ...

Now I look around and wonder if I like them!
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 02-21-2018, 09:14 AM
bezzola's Avatar
bezzola bezzola is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: edmonton
Posts: 1,832
Default

Usually do my own but it all depends on how warm it is and if i have to get back to work
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 02-21-2018, 09:14 AM
Gowest24 Gowest24 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 16
Default

I took my elk to Bear Butchering last fall, he did a great job. I had sausage, pep and jerky made plus all the good cuts of steak and loads of burger. Total was around $700. I would butcher myself if I had the time, but between coaching my boys hockey, work and trying to keep the wife happy it seems I am all out of that.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 02-21-2018, 10:58 AM
58thecat's Avatar
58thecat 58thecat is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: At the end of the Thirsty Beaver Trail, Pinsky lake, Alberta.
Posts: 24,497
Default

I do a little of both process some and send some in to be made into breakfast sausage etc....can do it all but found a super trusted, great service and excellent meat butcher locally in Hamels meats so I don't sweat the meat processing other then my steak/roast cuts.

In other places I lived I cut and processed the meat myself, money was a little thinner back then plus I didn't trust too many past butchers with thier lousy service...12" smokies on the BBQ....ends up 2" and many flash fires later...
__________________

Be careful when you follow the masses, sometimes the "M" is silent...
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 02-21-2018, 01:40 PM
omega50's Avatar
omega50 omega50 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 8,491
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by madball View Post
I'm hoping to get some insight from everyone on how you processed your big game harvest this year!

Did you process your own animal or did you pay a butcher to do it?

For those of you that paid a butcher would you mind letting me know the following info?

1) Species -
2) Primal Cuts(Steak, Roast, Ground) or Sausage/Jerky Too? -
3) Total Cost from Butcher -
4) Overall Experience - (are you satisfied with what you got for what you paid for it?)

If you don't want to put this info out publicly and wouldn't mind shooting me a PM about it that would be appreciated too!

Thanks in advance everyone!
Good luck in your new butcher shop.
__________________
You're only as good as your last haircut
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 02-21-2018, 02:33 PM
JDK71 JDK71 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,556
Default

I am going to start doing my own this year the butcher out of Sundre I use has started to over charge and it now takes him until march to get any meat back .I have used this guy for ten years he doesn't seem to care anymore its all about the money
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 02-21-2018, 03:15 PM
Piker Piker is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 820
Default Meat processing

It is probably cheaper to buy sausage in a store rather than get a place to do it for you. I took a moose to a butcher in 1966 and it cost me $75.00 which was a weeks salary then. Now my friends and I do it all ourselves and I think we bo a good job. The only exspence we have is the pork we buy to mix making sausage. In the good years we have done as much as 250 lbs. of sausage. Besides we have a good time doing it. Piker
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 02-21-2018, 03:54 PM
Norwest Alta Norwest Alta is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,666
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Duramaximos View Post
I butcher all mine.

Im curious to know why so many of you dont make your own sausages?
Time mostly and I don't think I can make anything near as good as Victoria sausage.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 02-21-2018, 04:00 PM
Sooner Sooner is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 9,647
Default

I voted do my own.

Dad always took the lead in breaking down the game, then cutting the roasts out etc. We did steaks and trim. Well he is going to be 82 soon and he didnt even come out to the garage to help cut trim meat with my sons moose this dec. I am glad that I have taken over the last few animals and broke them down myself. It's a learning experience and with each one, you get better. You tube is awesome for a quick refresher.

Butchers do our garlic sausage and smokies. But that is something I would like to one day try as well.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 02-21-2018, 04:49 PM
skidderman skidderman is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Spruce Grove, AB
Posts: 3,039
Default

Always do our own and am very confident that we do a better job than any butcher. We don't go fancy but clean, cut out any sinew and take our time. Have had some unpleasant work done by butcher's in the past.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 02-21-2018, 04:55 PM
bobalong bobalong is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,130
Default

We have been doing our own for the past 5 years or more. In that time we have upgraded meat grinder, bought a stand alone sausage stuffer (way faster) and this year a Bradley smoker. Been making my own deer, moose and goose jerky for many years so I had a meat slicer, scale and a dehydrator already.

We make our own garlic and breakfast sausage, hamburgers, jerky, meat balls, and pastrami. The thousands we have saved on processing we use some of it to upgrade equipment.

This (pic) is about 1 batch of sausage in the smoker (4 rack). Tried hanging it in the smoker but everywhere it was touching it did not "cook" as well so the next batches I used the racks.


Last edited by bobalong; 02-21-2018 at 05:03 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 02-21-2018, 06:09 PM
JTRED's Avatar
JTRED JTRED is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Central Kootenays BC
Posts: 432
Default

I debone, cut the steaks, roasts, stew meat, and my daughter wraps it all. Trimmings go to the local german metzger(butcher) for sausage.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 02-21-2018, 06:44 PM
anthony5 anthony5 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Vulcan
Posts: 780
Default Butchering

Do our own, my son and I. Roasts, Steaks, Sausage, Jerky, way to much fun.
__________________
Not that old,but been around a long time
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 02-21-2018, 09:08 PM
Soab Soab is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 346
Default

Usually do my own but got my elk when it was 25 plus out. Took it to a butcher cut wrapped and ground. Bit of jerky too ended up around 600
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 02-22-2018, 01:33 PM
El Carnicero El Carnicero is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 411
Default

I do my own.
I'm a trained butcher and have a small home set up in my garage with a few fun toys, Grinder, Hoist, stuffer, stainless steel table, to assist in the work.

Now and then I run across a fellow hunter or 2 that get tired of the typical butcher and thinking their meat is getting swiped, or just tired of waiting for months to get anything, so I offer to cut it for them if they want. They usually seem very happy with the outcome and a short 24-48 hour return. some even enjoy hanging out and watching/telling stories. Usually I get a call the next year from them.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 02-22-2018, 02:01 PM
marlin1's Avatar
marlin1 marlin1 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Calgary
Posts: 4,083
Default

we do our own everything , sausage , jerky , pepperoni , and this year my buddy wants to try pastrami . only expense is pork , spices , and some equipment up grades
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 02-22-2018, 02:13 PM
Stinky Buffalo's Avatar
Stinky Buffalo Stinky Buffalo is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: A bit North o' Center...
Posts: 11,113
Default

We like to do our own deboning, cutting, wrapping etc., setting aside the trim to take to a good butcher for sausage.

I have some friends who make their own sausage, so at some point they will convert me and I'll get into it too. Incredigirl isn't a fan of the idea, but she'll come around.

It's great when we have the time. The process is very satisfying.

Gotta get the kids involved this coming season, it should go quicker.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 02-24-2018, 06:27 AM
Z7Extreme Z7Extreme is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 315
Default

I always butcher my own. A butcher makes money by quantity not quality. Plus they will do stupid things like cut t-bones using a band saw. Sawing through bone makes the meat super gamey. Elk, moose and deer are not the same as beef and cannot be butchered the same way.
__________________
I hunt because I am hungry...
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 02-24-2018, 07:40 AM
vcmm's Avatar
vcmm vcmm is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Vulcan Ab
Posts: 3,871
Default

Never mind
__________________
"It's like bragging that it's 10 CENTIMETERS LONG! (when really, it's 4" dude, settle down)"
Huntinstuff


"Me neither but it's all in the eye of the beer holder"
norwestalta

.....out of bounds.....but funny none the less!

LC

"Funny how when a bear eats another bear, no one bats an eye, but......

when a human eats another human, people act like it's the end if the friggin world. News coverage, tweets, blogs, outrage, Piers Morgan etcetc.

Go figure." -Huntinstuff
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:02 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.