deer processing


woodshed

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Re: deer processing

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sounds like you got robbed there!I would think you should have been closer to 60 to 70 lbs of meat! The only thing that might have cut down on your take would have been if the deer was REALLY poorly looked after! If there is a lot of ruined meat, spoiled etc!

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I agree. Normally for me 30-35 pounds is what I would get out of a small/yearling sized deer.

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Re: deer processing

Usually I figure about 50% of the dressed weight as a rough estimate. It is normally pretty close. We have always processed our own deer. Over the years we have weighed all sizes and then compare to the amount of meat. A lot of it depends on how thorough you are at deboning, and as stated before how much damaged meat there is. But as a rough estimate I figure 50%.

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Re: deer processing

It is possible if the deer was shot a few times.I have a buddy that complained about the same thing,but he shot the deer 4 times and ruined quite a bit of meat.If that's not the case I would find somewhere else to take it.Generally,if you weigh the animal after it is gutted,you can expect to get about half that weight in meat from the processor.

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Re: deer processing

I agree with the others that you were either shorted or could you have shot through a couple of the 1/4's.

I took in a 9 pt that field dressed at 132 pounds. I got 4 large roasts, all the loins and straps, 10 pounds of ground - plus I got 30 pounds (6 - 5 pound packages) of cubed meat that I'm going to make into sausage.

I only hit one bone, that was a rib on the exit wound so I had virtually no waste.

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Re: deer processing

35# from a 130# deer sounds a little fishy to me. I am not saying somebody stole meat from you, but I would question the skill the processor had. I figure about 45% back from carry in weight of a field dressed deer.

My processor comes in very close on an average. He also is particular to explain if the yield is a little lower. IE: The shoulder was ruined or whatever.

I'd find another processor or learn how to do it myself. Maybe you could start your own business if the competition is that incompetent.

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Re: deer processing

I do all my own deer. I bone everything out, and really spend a lot of time trimming fat and silverskin. It works out almost every time that i get 1/3 of the dressed weight of a deer. I would have ened up wit happrox. 45lbs of boneless, very trimmed meat out of a 130 pound deer, that had no bloodshot meat.

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Re: deer processing

Thanks.. Yes, I had 2 totally full grocery sacks of meat on my buck and a small doe. With those two deer I should have had wayyy wayyy more meat.

The buck did have shot out shoulders by the way. the processor said I lost 5-6 pounds on him because both shoulders were shot. I still should have had more though.

I processed a big doe today. It took several hours, but I did get much more meat. I'm definately going to find another processor with the option of doing it myself from time to time. When time and family can deal with it.

thanks everybody.

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Re: deer processing

Really it depends on how you are cutting it, whether you debone it all, if you trim away every little bit of white or silver skin, if you are having any bacon or fat added etc. If you process your own and trim away all the unwanted stuff and debone it all you may end up with only 50-60 lbs before adding any bacon or fat to any ground meat.

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Re: deer processing

[ QUOTE ]

I do all my own deer. I bone everything out, and really spend a lot of time trimming fat and silverskin. It works out almost every time that i get 1/3 of the dressed weight of a deer. I would have ened up wit happrox. 45lbs of boneless, very trimmed meat out of a 130 pound deer, that had no bloodshot meat.

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Ditto!!

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Re: deer processing

Ok everybody thanks so much for all you input. I ended up processing the meat myself. It was a good sized doe. I was prob. more anal about getting all silverskin and fat off. So,, I finished with 42 ilbs of deboned meat

I can't weigh a hanging deer. So I assume a good doe dresses out to 80-90 lbs. Half of that is 40-45'ish. So I'm about right with that right????

If it was a buck then 50-60 would be about right??

By-the-way,,,,this was a BIG pain in the arse!! An all day deal to save 75 bucks and maybe 5 lbs of meat. My wife was definately not pleased with me making all this mess. (She's a hot prissy girl from the suburbs!!)

Moral of the story-----I pay mechanic to fix my car, I pay electrician to fix my wires, I fly airplanes for a living and people pay me to do that.

I need to pay somebody to cut my meat!!!! I''d rather pay the money and go hunt for an extra afternoon and spend the rest of the day with my family.

I was a good learning experience and I'll only do it again under certain conditions. Time, friend and beer, warm (so I can be outside for the mess), and absolutely nothing better to do. otherwise it's at the processor with my money.

Thanks everybody and enjoy your venison. I know I will. WAgoooo!!

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Re: deer processing

Doing it yourself will only get easier with time. Once I have the deer hung and skinned, I take it off the bone right where it hangs. I can debone the deer in probaly 15 minutes. Then I sit down and clean the meat and cuts up. I will not pay 75 $ to have a deer done, you just have to get a good set up.

As far as lbs of meat from your deer. Usually you will get around 1/3 of the deer's weight. Example if your deer is 90 lbs you can expect to get about 30 lbs of deboned meat

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