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Processors swapping deer…

The processor I used, I don't think i always got my ground or sausage but they made you think you did. I always got my tag back and all packages has the deer number written on them. It is possible but I don't know how they would have done it processing as many as they did. Never had an issue. I always got what I thought the deer should yield in pounds of meat so I never complained
 
redblood said:
I dont use processors, i do my own. However, im reading lots of threads about a hunter not receiving the same deer they harvested? Is this really a common practice? If so how is anyone ok with that? When i kill a doe for meat, she is selected based in size, age, and healthiness. She is also killed when the weather conditions are right for handling- cold! I get the entrails out quickly, washout thoroughly and get her hung up and packed in ice. Id be be pissed to harvest a prime 120 pound fat 3.5 yr old doe on a cold morning and recieve back a gut shot rutted out 4.5 yr old buck that been ridden around in a a bed of truck for 6 hrs of a 55 degree day before being taken in.

I even question the legality of such a practice
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Kinda depends. Most will get their own deer's meat if they are having the normal cut but specialty items, since it takes a quantity to do them, many combine multiple deer (for sausage, brats, jerky) because you need a lot of meat for a batch. Found that out after I had one cut up and cooler aged it myself for specialty and then found out that what I got back was probably not any of the meat I painstakingly aged... :( "Most" processors will not let a bad one get mixed in.
 
Big Gun said:
There used to be a couple of processors in S.W. Tn that did swap out deer meat. They had some type of idea how much meat you would get based off how much your deer weighed. I don't know if they still do it because I didn't go back.
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I have used the one you referenced! I know for a fact I didn't get my deer back. I just process my own, I'm much happier this way.

I think during bow season you'd probably have a good chance at getting your deer back. By late season I could see how everything turns into a free for all to keep up with.
 
On my very first out of state hunt I had a processor ask me if I wanted all sausage. They told me if I did, all they would do is weigh my animal, calculate the dressing % they use and give me the amount of sausage right then and there.

So, I know for 100% fact, that processor didn't give you your deer back.

That was the harbinger of me getting serious about personal deer butchery.
 
I think as long as the processor is up front about his practice, then whatever you and he agree to is ok. This is really where the problem seems to happen - when the processor is not up front about the practice.

It would be unreasonable IMO to expect a processor to give you 5 lbs of jerky that is exactly 5lbs from your deer because it is such a process. But as far as grind, roasts and steak go - yes, should be your deer. No excuse not to be IMO.
 
AT Hiker said:
On my very first out of state hunt I had a processor ask me if I wanted all sausage. They told me if I did, all they would do is weigh my animal, calculate the dressing % they use and give me the amount of sausage right then and there.

So, I know for 100% fact, that processor didn't give you your deer back.

That was the harbinger of me getting serious about personal deer butchery.
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There was a pallet in my garage for the last month covered by a blanket. I knew it was my Christmas gift, but couldn't imagine what it was.

Turns out to be a commercial bone saw from my wife :) She knows me well.

I have grown to LOVE processing my own kills. There was a time when it made more sense for me to take my deer to a processor for a variety of reasons. I now spend 3-4 hours processing a deer now and my kids help the whole process. The end result is exactly what I want it to be. Hard to beat that.
 
DeerCamp said:
There was a pallet in my garage for the last month covered by a blanket. I knew it was my Christmas gift, but couldn't imagine what it was.

Turns out to be a commercial bone saw from my wife :) She knows me well.

I have grown to LOVE processing my own kills. There was a time when it made more sense for me to take my deer to a processor for a variety of reasons. I now spend 3-4 hours processing a deer now and my kids help the whole process. The end result is exactly what I want it to be. Hard to beat that.
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One year my wife and kids gave me for Christmas a mixer, stuffer, slicer, and cuber. Having proper dedicated equipment makes such a big difference.
 
Local place with excellent reputation you get YOUR meat back, even on smoked sausage. But you MUST get 25lbs batches at a time (17lbs of your meat, plus they add 8lbs pork trimmings you pay dearly for)... about $5 per pound this year.... but professionally vac sealed in 1lb packages, nice fancy sticker label on the package.
 
AlabamaSwamper said:
I hate to break it to you but any processor that's stays moderately busy isn't giving you your deer back in whole especially when it comes to anything that requires grinding.
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I don't agree with this. I have a buddy who works at a processor near me that stays real busy. I've asked him this question. They do their best to always get the hunters back 1:1 their own deer. Of course, they aren't cleaning the grinder out between every deer so there is no such thing as 100%. But your deer is tagged from start to finish and outside of making a mistake, you are getting your deer back. So they do exist.
 
Took a nice young tender doe in for processingonce in another State .
When I got the call too pick up my meat there was 5 boxes full of the toughest nasty tasting 💩 I've ever tasted in my life…🤮🤢

Nowadays, Deer hair makes my eyes swell almost shut…😭
That started about 10 years ago…🤷‍♂️
 
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Big Gun said:
There used to be a couple of processors in S.W. Tn that did swap out deer meat. They had some type of idea how much meat you would get based off how much your deer weighed. I don't know if they still do it because I didn't go back.
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I bet most of them do this...
 

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