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Worried about deer at processor.
#1082975
12/04/09 11:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 325
trenthuntin
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 325 |
I went to pick up my deer head at the processor and he was still hanging one week after i dropped him off. It was cold in there but not freezing. Then I went back today to pick the head up and it smelled pretty bad in there. Not sure if my meat was frozen and packed at that point, or was some of it out in trays. Today would have been two weeks. What do yall think? Should I be worried?
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: trenthuntin]
#1083581
12/05/09 04:26 AM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 274
drdavidovich
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 274 |
it smelled pretty bad in there. Probably should be worried. I tried a new processor last year, Cox's in Commanche. The place stunk like hell, and I found all kinds of disgusting God knows what in all my packs of ground...threw the whole lot away, damn shame. I really think I'm going to do it myself this year, for the first time. Even if I screw it up, I can grind everything and have a bunch of nice clean ground anyway.
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: drdavidovich]
#1083707
12/05/09 05:51 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 838
uthornfan
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 838 |
I processed the doe I got this year by myself, the first time I had done so. It was slightly overwhelming before I started, but it was really not difficult once I got started. I picked up the book Butchering Deer by John Weiss and it was a huge help. Lots of pics and goes into details on all the options you have for each part of the deer (roasts, steaks, burger, etc...) I got it at Half Price Books for about $7, and it was money very well spent.
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: uthornfan]
#1083830
12/05/09 02:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 325
trenthuntin
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 325 |
Does anybody know how long you can safely hang a deer without freezing it?
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: trenthuntin]
#1083841
12/05/09 02:20 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,519
tannerlst
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,519 |
two weeks sounds a little long, but at the RIGHT temp it should be ok i would think. but if the meat smells, i wouldn't touch it
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: tannerlst]
#1084058
12/05/09 05:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 172
dfk
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 172 |
I'm not going to say to not be worried cause I'm not sure what temperature your deer is at, but the "aging" of a deer (with hide on) is 4-8 days at 38-40 degrees. 10 days won't do much harm. The days start from the time of your kill (actually once he/she has cooled down). BTW, got the same John Weiss book. Think I got it at bass pro or cabelas.
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: dfk]
#1084116
12/05/09 06:11 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 325
trenthuntin
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 325 |
Ok thanks guys. I will post back after i pick him up.
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: trenthuntin]
#1084473
12/05/09 10:51 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 629
filly
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 629 |
i started processing my own from the first deer i shot last year. 3 more deer down since then, and i've dont it all myself. just roasts, steaks, and grind. i like knowing my venison was handled and prepped by me. got a book as well. just takes patience and a little finesse. if you're hamfisted and can't change your own sparkplugs, you might have trouble.
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: filly]
#1084480
12/05/09 10:59 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,304
Big Tony
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7,304 |
if you're hamfisted and can't change your own sparkplugs, you might have trouble.
"A hunt based only on trophies taken, falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be." -Fred Bear
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: Big Tony]
#1084671
12/06/09 01:30 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,956
don k
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,956 |
It is not that hard to do it yourself. The backstraps and hams you can make steaks out of. The rest of it use for chili or grind up with a little beef tallow and use for hamburger. If you want mix some pork trimmings with some of it along with some pork sausage seasoning and it makes some good breakfast patties. Put it in some plastic baggies and you are good to go. It will be a hell of a lot cleaner than if you get it done somewhere else plus it will taste better because you did it yourself. Good luck and go for it, Donald
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: don k]
#1084846
12/06/09 03:07 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,768
killemall
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,768 |
We used to hang for a week before processing, now this was in a 36 degree cooler, off the floor. I have seen a couple processors that could have used a mop and some bleach.
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: trenthuntin]
#1089248
12/08/09 02:38 AM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,784
RobertY
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,784 |
Then I went back today to pick the head up and it smelled pretty bad in there. You should be worried. If it smells bad, it IS bad, period. Food processing stations should be clean, organized, well staffed and NEVER smell bad. No doubt, hanging meat has a musk to it, but it isn't offensive smelling. I personally would be very concerned. The health deparment should be called too.
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: RobertY]
#1089452
12/08/09 03:25 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,579
deewayne2003
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,579 |
Not stepping on toes here but 10-14days with the hide on will only make the meat better; after all deer is a very lean meat and can be tough from lack of marbleing.
Some of the best beef steaks are aged up to 60days in a cooler until black mold is growing on the out side and the mold is then trimmed away and these steaks go for $100.00+ per serving.
A meat packing plant "is what it is" and while all proper disinfectants should be used as part of a comprohensive cleaning plan .....its not going to smell like sunshine!
Use your better judgement when choseing a processor and keep your eye open but I once had a hunting client follow me to a processor in dallas to drop off his deer and the establishment was grade A++++ CLEAN floors washed with bleach, meat carried in seperate pans, nothing on the floor and clean well mannered staff.
I was really impressed at how clean it was; being an agriculture major and having seen commercial packing facilities.
The client on the other hand...."I cant believe this place hasnt be shut down im not leaving my deer here!"
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder just make sure you know what your looking for.
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: deewayne2003]
#1095593
12/10/09 02:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 325
trenthuntin
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 325 |
All good points. Just was looking for your opionions. Ive been around processors a long time and givin time, i would much rather process myself. I believe a meat locker should NEVER smell rotten.
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: trenthuntin]
#1100537
12/12/09 01:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,543
NewGulf
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,543 |
well when they wash it down with bleach it still doesnt smell very good. one of my cousins has a meat market and used to butcher everything you can imagine and it didnt smell all that good but it was clean as clean could get. he still makes sausage and jerky and stuff but got out of the slaughter part of it....that is unless your a good friend. lol
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: NewGulf]
#1103877
12/14/09 03:24 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,581
TPACK
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,581 |
I never take a deer to a processor because I have been cutting meat for over 25 years.What few times I went to one with someone else the place where they processed the meat(cutting room)wasn`t very cold at all.I always keep the meat cutting room 45 degrees or below for sanitation reasons.I am sure they don`t want to spend the money to cool a processing room properly.It is deer meat that will be frozen and wrapped in butcher paper where it can`t be inspected till sometime in the future when you get home.Deer processors can get away with poor sanitation practices that supermarket butcher shops would never even consider because they(supermarkets) only sell fresh beef and pork.I would suggest that if you really want to know what deer you are eating and how it has been taken care of while being processed that you need to learn from someone or somewhere how to do it yourelf. YOUTUBE has a few good clips on skinning and processing deer that are really good for someone who might need a little help.
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: TPACK]
#1115215
12/18/09 10:07 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 139
deerhunter721
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 139 |
I started doing them myself. I know I am getting MY deer, and I know it is done with cleanliness. The last several batches of deer steaks I have come across, done by processors, looed like crap. Tons of fat, sinew, and silverskin left all over the meat. And it was cut wrong. No wonder so many people say that they don't like venison. Seems like half the processors don't know how or they don't care how it is processed. Plus, you dont even know if the deer is yours or someone elses. So quality control is in their hands. Plus, once I learned how to process myself, I found it to be fun!JMO
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Re: Worried about deer at processor.
[Re: don k]
#1164276
01/11/10 02:06 PM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 274
drdavidovich
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 274 |
Trent...how did this story turn out?
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