NOBODY takes more care with your fish and game than you when you do it yourself. I'd never let someone diddle with my precious game meat and mix it up with someone else's half spoiled mess that wasn't immediately cooled and taken care of. Not to mention the expense 😮
Picked up a grinder a couple years ago. I don't do anything fancy, I just grind up the meat. From forest to table, in no one's hands but mine. Rewarding and affordable.
Thank you for the video. I process everything myself. I tell people a grinder, food saver, nice 6 in boneing knife and a decent size cutting board to get started. I added once piece of equipment every year so I could dollar cost average the expense. Helps to have a Garage fridge as well. I try to help everyone I know with their set ups and even go to their place and help with the first deer if I can.
I've done my own deer and bear for the last 50yrs, learned from my grandfather who was a butcher and owned his own store how to do it. It's worth getting a grinder and a few good knives. Heard many stories about getting scammed here in michigan from meat processors 🤔😳😖
Never processed a bear but did all the deer I harvested. Have my own grinder, stuffer & smoker. Got different seasoning mixes from Cabela's. It's work but ya save a lot !!
A car detail cost more than a car wash lol but next bear you get try to make all that stuff. it might be an eye opener. my cut fee for my processing is 2.50 per lb. any linked style sausage or snack stick i charge 10 a lb. it takes so long to mix, stuff, hang smoke to temp, chill, cut to size and vacuum seal that i could cut up 5 animals quicker than i can make all the specialty sausages out of one. not including the overnight hang time and the hours of smoking. plus the loss of a hook in the hanging room that could have another customers deer on it. but the only to find out and get better is to get the equipment and get after it. who knows you may make money on the side doing it.
mix it with pork butt. Wait for a sale .99 a pound. Buy an LEM 8 or 12 grinder and a separate 5 pound Hakka stuffer. I had the bigger stuffers, you can reload a 5 lb. in seconds and it's easier to handle. Casings are expensive. There is a thousand flavors of sausage you can make. Snack sticks, just ground burger. Get the big bite grinder, not the smaller 8lb. I have the 12 and it's perfect. Get a foot pedal too. A 12 Lem and a 5lb Hakka stuffer would be less than 1 process.
I know in west TN there have been alot of butchers gone out of business,,it's hard to find one you can trust, my brother and brought in6 or 8 deer 1 year and got 3 boxes back 1ftx1ft 15 inches tall not very big I was pissed talked to a game warden he said that's a civil madder,,a friend of mine went there had the same thing happen to him
Sausage is expensive, you're paying for the labor to make it, plus the spices for sure! I only bring roughly the minimum trimmings that most places take (15 pounds) and my bill is 120 to 150 bucks just for that much product! I go to 2 different places now, one near Madison and one near Green Bay where my parents live. Both are very good, but again, very expensive! I am now doing small batches on my own in my smoker, just 5 pounds at a time, until I'm comfortable making all my own.
Sounds like you have a good plan. I definitely need to just quit being scared of messing it up and try doing it myself. I think I'm going to try making a jerky video this winter, that I do know how to make lol
I think the hard part with bear is that it's so dang warm out, so it would be hard to do it yourself. I haven't picked my bear up yet, but in total it should be about $600 for butchering and product. Product is $4/lb- $5/lb where I dropped off mine and $200 for butchering plus $1/lb for anything iver 200lb. So my bear was 251 on the hook, so $251 for skinning, roasts, steaks, burger. I think when I start deer hunting again, I'll just buy what I need to process my own. Too expensive now.
@Northwoods Mounts aren't really my style. They skin it so you couod do a ful body mount mount if you want, so I may get a rug made, or just tan it for a wall hanger. I got a batch of snack sticks, batch of brats, half batch of summer sausage and half batch of bacon. A batch runs 18-25 lbs. Then I got a blade roast, neck roast, and everything left over will be ground. I'll make a video when I go pick it up, too.
I had a deer butchered a few years ago and because it was an extra deer for us that year I had the back straps and loin kept whole. The rest had made into sausage. That cost me $450 ! Plus the first deer that was $115 to package and debone it. It was way to expensive! I got back two bags of sausage Not as good as The stuff I’d ordered the year before. I’ll never do that again.
@rsa9082 yeah, I get they need to make a living but the services they offer aren't worth the price. Probably why there isn't many butchers left in my area.
Processing is a huge scam. Hunters need to get back to processing there own like dad and gpa always did. Would rather buy a half of beef at those prices.
Yeah the sticker shock will make it taste not as good as you were hoping. For what you spent you could have got the equipment (not pro level) and done it. I got a #22 1.5 hp grinder (550 lbs/hr) on Amazon for $279. Darn thing weighs 60 lbs.. Then I scored a LEM 20# vertical stuffer with electric motor & foot switch for $425, IN THE BOX. (Yeah I got lucky on that one). Manual 15# stuffer can be had for under $200. As far as a smoker goes one can convert an old fridge for nothing in most cases (us guys generally have all kinds of stuff laying around for parts and once the concept becomes clear fabbing one together is cake) or use LIQUID SMOKE (totally natural product) in meat mix and poach or use oven.
I've always done everything myself. I won't let anyone touch my animals. You could have mixed deer with the bear. Also "venison" is anything with hooves you hunt. Just call it what it is. Deer, elk, moose extra.
@@Northwoods You said your Wife had called around and that was kind of the avg for the area. Wonder if maybe you try out of your area code and see if its a drastic difference. Might be worth just a few phone calls.
Yeah that pricing really is crazy. You could just go buy hot dogs and summer sausage for that. That smoking and cured stuff must be a Midwest thing. Not much of that in Maine where I'm at. Bear steaks, roast, burger and loose sausage is pretty standard. Just like a deer really. The old timer "you can't eat bear" attitude is one things that's wrong but still around.
I definitely want to get some burger made next time to try to incorporate it in meals throughout the year. We have almost all of our venison made into burger and use it the same way. Would be nice to have a variety and to rely less on venison.
@@NorthwoodsSame. I would have just got the cuts and trimmings and taken the trimmings somewhere at a later date, to spread out the cost and done some myself.
Is not that cheap to do it yourself either if you figure on paying yourself. A buddy and I made a couple hundred pounds of sausage and stuff 2 years ago and had over $3 a pound invested in spices,casings,other meat for mixing plus ypu have to have the grinder and stuffed
i always cut my own meat up. tons of free instruction on you tube. it almost feels to me like somebody out there is trying to discourage people actually hunting for their own food. someone that does that cant afford to do that. if that makes sense. it also looks like, the land of greedy thieves, and the home of wage slaves
You pay for the butchers time and hes materials and he has to make a profit ofherwise there would be no point in using hes time to do so?.. Hes experience plus dirtying hes equipment shouldnt go un respected when hes feeding you....
The most expensive thing I buy is casings. Even the Morton's Tender Quick is relatively cheap, and goes a looooooooong way if used per the instructions. Most stores ( in this area) are selling the larger cheaper containers of spices now, so there's no need to buy a teeny $5.00 bottle of something for your sausage recipe. One can buy the same knives that professional meat cutters use for $50.00 or less each, usually half that. Learn to sharpen them yourself. Leave the beer in the refrigerator until you're completely through with everything so you won't do something stupid and mess everything up Good Luck
Is not that cheap to do it yourself either if you figure on paying yourself. A buddy and I made a couple hundred pounds of sausage and stuff 2 years ago and had over $3 a pound invested in spices,casings,other meat for mixing plus ypu have to have the grinder and stuffed
Get a grinder and everything you need and start doing it yourself. Saves a ton of cash. And its a little more rewarding knowing you did it youself.
I agree 100%. Thanks for watching!
NOBODY takes more care with
your fish and game than you
when you do it yourself.
I'd never let someone diddle
with my precious game meat
and mix it up with someone
else's half spoiled mess that
wasn't immediately cooled
and taken care of. Not to
mention the expense 😮
Picked up a grinder a couple years ago. I don't do anything fancy, I just grind up the meat. From forest to table, in no one's hands but mine. Rewarding and affordable.
Thank you for the video.
I process everything myself.
I tell people a grinder, food saver, nice 6 in boneing knife and a decent size cutting board to get started.
I added once piece of equipment every year so I could dollar cost average the expense.
Helps to have a Garage fridge as well.
I try to help everyone I know with their set ups and even go to their place and help with the first deer if I can.
It's a lot of work, plus the overhead for the equipment, business expenses, shop space, spices, casings, everything is spendy.
I've done my own deer and bear for the last 50yrs, learned from my grandfather who was a butcher and owned his own store how to do it. It's worth getting a grinder and a few good knives. Heard many stories about getting scammed here in michigan from meat processors 🤔😳😖
Never processed a bear but did all the deer I harvested. Have my own grinder, stuffer & smoker. Got different seasoning mixes from Cabela's. It's work but ya save a lot !!
@robertrhodes9123 sounds like you have a great setup. Definitely time for me to invest. Thanks for watching!
I also do my own meat, but the difference is i have old family recipes i go by, sounds like i could make some serious money!!! Rip offs
Get a cabelas carnivore 1hp meat grinder and jerky slicer attachment because they are on sale in October
A car detail cost more than a car wash lol but next bear you get try to make all that stuff. it might be an eye opener. my cut fee for my processing is 2.50 per lb. any linked style sausage or snack stick i charge 10 a lb. it takes so long to mix, stuff, hang smoke to temp, chill, cut to size and vacuum seal that i could cut up 5 animals quicker than i can make all the specialty sausages out of one. not including the overnight hang time and the hours of smoking. plus the loss of a hook in the hanging room that could have another customers deer on it. but the only to find out and get better is to get the equipment and get after it. who knows you may make money on the side doing it.
mix it with pork butt. Wait for a sale .99 a pound. Buy an LEM 8 or 12 grinder and a separate 5 pound Hakka stuffer. I had the bigger stuffers, you can reload a 5 lb. in seconds and it's easier to handle. Casings are expensive. There is a thousand flavors of sausage you can make. Snack sticks, just ground burger. Get the big bite grinder, not the smaller 8lb. I have the 12 and it's perfect. Get a foot pedal too. A 12 Lem and a 5lb Hakka stuffer would be less than 1 process.
Definitely cheaper to do it yourself! Seems like robbery what they charged you! Thank you for sharing my friend!
Lol yes I feel robbed. The meat is very good but too rich for my blood. I'll definitely be learning how to do it myself next time.
Find a Huterite Colony there 1/4 of any processor and it's always very good.
I know in west TN there have been alot of butchers gone out of business,,it's hard to find one you can trust, my brother and brought in6 or 8 deer 1 year and got 3 boxes back 1ftx1ft 15 inches tall not very big I was pissed talked to a game warden he said that's a civil madder,,a friend of mine went there had the same thing happen to him
Sausage is expensive, you're paying for the labor to make it, plus the spices for sure! I only bring roughly the minimum trimmings that most places take (15 pounds) and my bill is 120 to 150 bucks just for that much product! I go to 2 different places now, one near Madison and one near Green Bay where my parents live. Both are very good, but again, very expensive! I am now doing small batches on my own in my smoker, just 5 pounds at a time, until I'm comfortable making all my own.
Sounds like you have a good plan. I definitely need to just quit being scared of messing it up and try doing it myself. I think I'm going to try making a jerky video this winter, that I do know how to make lol
I think the hard part with bear is that it's so dang warm out, so it would be hard to do it yourself.
I haven't picked my bear up yet, but in total it should be about $600 for butchering and product. Product is $4/lb- $5/lb where I dropped off mine and $200 for butchering plus $1/lb for anything iver 200lb. So my bear was 251 on the hook, so $251 for skinning, roasts, steaks, burger.
I think when I start deer hunting again, I'll just buy what I need to process my own. Too expensive now.
Let me know what all you end up having made. Congrats on the bear again. Are you getting a mount?
@Northwoods Mounts aren't really my style. They skin it so you couod do a ful body mount mount if you want, so I may get a rug made, or just tan it for a wall hanger. I got a batch of snack sticks, batch of brats, half batch of summer sausage and half batch of bacon. A batch runs 18-25 lbs. Then I got a blade roast, neck roast, and everything left over will be ground. I'll make a video when I go pick it up, too.
I had a deer butchered a few years ago and because it was an extra deer for us that year I had the back straps and loin kept whole. The rest had made into sausage. That cost me $450 ! Plus the first deer that was $115 to package and debone it.
It was way to expensive! I got back two bags of sausage Not as good as The stuff I’d ordered the year before. I’ll never do that again.
@rsa9082 yeah, I get they need to make a living but the services they offer aren't worth the price. Probably why there isn't many butchers left in my area.
Processing is a huge scam. Hunters need to get back to processing there own like dad and gpa always did. Would rather buy a half of beef at those prices.
Yeah the sticker shock will make it taste not as good as you were hoping. For what you spent you could have got the equipment (not pro level) and done it. I got a #22 1.5 hp grinder (550 lbs/hr) on Amazon for $279. Darn thing weighs 60 lbs.. Then I scored a LEM 20# vertical stuffer with electric motor & foot switch for $425, IN THE BOX. (Yeah I got lucky on that one). Manual 15# stuffer can be had for under $200. As far as a smoker goes one can convert an old fridge for nothing in most cases (us guys generally have all kinds of stuff laying around for parts and once the concept becomes clear fabbing one together is cake) or use LIQUID SMOKE (totally natural product) in meat mix and poach or use oven.
I've always done everything myself. I won't let anyone touch my animals. You could have mixed deer with the bear. Also "venison" is anything with hooves you hunt. Just call it what it is. Deer, elk, moose extra.
For that much its worth learning how to do it yourself. Yikes! Granted I have never had a bear processed.
I agree 100%. We live and learn I guess. Thanks for watching
@@Northwoods You said your Wife had called around and that was kind of the avg for the area. Wonder if maybe you try out of your area code and see if its a drastic difference. Might be worth just a few phone calls.
Next time make burgers,roasts etc it’s better then any other critter in the woods
I process my own. Don't trust processors. This year will be making my own summer sausage. Although processors in my area are usually reasonable.
I always wonder if they keep some of the meat. I'm sure most are honest though.
@@Northwoods my buddy took his buck to a processor and he felt he got less meat back.
Yeah that pricing really is crazy. You could just go buy hot dogs and summer sausage for that. That smoking and cured stuff must be a Midwest thing. Not much of that in Maine where I'm at. Bear steaks, roast, burger and loose sausage is pretty standard. Just like a deer really. The old timer "you can't eat bear" attitude is one things that's wrong but still around.
I definitely want to get some burger made next time to try to incorporate it in meals throughout the year. We have almost all of our venison made into burger and use it the same way. Would be nice to have a variety and to rely less on venison.
We do our deer elk and bear its really not that dificult to be honest
Knowing what you know now what would you have done with the meat. That amount of money could buy a lot of processing equipment.
@@BradKaboord I would have done more research on things to do with the meat other than processing
@@NorthwoodsSame. I would have just got the cuts and trimmings and taken the trimmings somewhere at a later date, to spread out the cost and done some myself.
I got hosed by a butcher when I was 16. Been doing it myself forty years since. They charge way to much
Is not that cheap to do it yourself either if you figure on paying yourself. A buddy and I made a couple hundred pounds of sausage and stuff 2 years ago and had over $3 a pound invested in spices,casings,other meat for mixing plus ypu have to have the grinder and stuffed
Never had a desire to eat a bear… I haven’t ever had it though. I’ll stick to herbivores, maybe pork. I ain’t mad at you though. 👍
Is bear meat good?
I like the steaks and the processed items I had made. To me it's a more mild game flavor.
i always cut my own meat up. tons of free instruction on you tube. it almost feels to me like somebody out there is trying to discourage people actually hunting for their own food. someone that does that cant afford to do that. if that makes sense.
it also looks like,
the land of greedy thieves,
and the home of wage slaves
Hope it's good eating 😅
They too have to make a living!
You pay for the butchers time and hes materials and he has to make a profit ofherwise there would be no point in using hes time to do so?..
Hes experience plus dirtying hes equipment shouldnt go un respected when hes feeding you....
Why are you so upset?
Learn how to process your own meat and do it also for sausages
The most expensive thing I
buy is casings.
Even the Morton's Tender Quick is relatively cheap, and
goes a looooooooong way
if used per the instructions.
Most stores ( in this area)
are selling the larger cheaper
containers of spices now, so
there's no need to buy a teeny
$5.00 bottle of something for
your sausage recipe.
One can buy the same knives
that professional meat cutters
use for $50.00 or less each,
usually half that. Learn to
sharpen them yourself.
Leave the beer in the refrigerator until you're completely through with everything so you won't do
something stupid and mess
everything up
Good Luck
Is not that cheap to do it yourself either if you figure on paying yourself. A buddy and I made a couple hundred pounds of sausage and stuff 2 years ago and had over $3 a pound invested in spices,casings,other meat for mixing plus ypu have to have the grinder and stuffed