I've processed my own for about 4 seasons now. It never goes smoothly, but it eats the same and I feel pretty good vacuum sealing up that last pack of venison. I'd hate to do it for a living.
Deer processing
- Thread starter giles
- Start date
Mickey Merrie
Junior Member
Ticks, CWD, Arthritis, regulations and regulators, most butchers today at grocery stores couldn't tell you what part of an animal came from where as they are basically trimmers now. No new butchers being trained. Seasonal work not year round, "Hey! I only got 30 pounds back?!" "Why am I getting someone else's burger?!" $125 for a basic cut? And then you charged me $5 to remove the butt hole?" "I hear you guys keep some of my meat for yourselves too!"
"Can I pick my meat up after Christmas? I'm a little short on cash right now..."
No thanks. I can greet at Walmart and make more money while staying warmer!
"Can I pick my meat up after Christmas? I'm a little short on cash right now..."
No thanks. I can greet at Walmart and make more money while staying warmer!
Mickey Merrie
Junior Member
Oh and you end up working super long hours during hunting season!!!
I can give you a # to call and he'll confirm all that @jagermeister said about the gig! It ain't glamorous, you won't get rich, and you have to deal with morons. Kinda like most jobs, but a bit messier.
Would be easy for a man to covert a stall in his garage to do a few on the side to see how he likes it. Just sayin...
I've got a 16 year old that helped me on these deer. I'm thinking about him with this thread.
OO2
Well-Known Member
Lawn care in the summer and butcher in the fall
you said what i meant 10x better
I’ll say this… One thing I have seen emerge from all the chaos is a handful of small ‘mom & pop’ size butcher businesses open up, specializing in deer only. I think there’s quite a few people out there doing, or attempting to do, exactly what you mentioned… seeing how they like it.
In the world of "farm to fork", if you can butcher anything and run a small store front, you can make $.
Smawgunner2
Active Member
You need higher aspirations for your kid than poverty. I don't see much money in either. If so, it is a specialized area like hardscapes or fertilization (which wear out your body fast or expose you to chemicals daily). Can't speak for butchers other than I know how slow I am at it. I agree with everything Jager said about it. And I can think of a lot of other careers with higher return.
I was told to turn my spotlight off. But you live a pretty good life. You also take more vacations than I do.
It isn't from mowing lawns. It is from 27 years of diversifying and having a wife with a good job. If I showed you our books you might be surprised. Shocked even.
We all pick our poison. I was thankful to see our son pick a different career path than I did. Maybe he will heed my advise on living below his means. Maybe he will be able to retire before his body is a bag of broken and worn out parts like his dad.
OO2
Well-Known Member
I think for a 16 y/o lawn care would be a great gig to finish out school and learn entrepreneurship. Then apply those lesson learned to a trade school or whatever career path they choose to do.
I did lawns at that age and am not in poverty…
OO2
Well-Known Member
OR it is alright to be alright. Not everyone is built to be at the top. Butchering animals at your house seems pretty low cost for overhead. Like mowing lawns, pretty low overhead to get started. Play around or able to make a career out of either. These jobs should not be looked down on and are both needed. Neither come with student debt either!