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Deer Self Processing Setup

Posted on 1/4/24 at 8:13 am
Posted by No Colors
Sandbar
Member since Sep 2010
10408 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 8:13 am
I am looking at getting into this and handle everything myself. I don't want to go full scale commercial, but maybe high end, high volume personal use.

I am planning on building a dedicated insulated "clean room" from the ground up that will include skinning rack, prep tables, sinks, butchering area, seal wrap and pack, and either a small walk-in cooler, or maybe a couple of glass fronts.

Let's see pics of your setup, and things you would do different, etc
Posted by reds on reds on reds
Birmingham
Member since Sep 2013
4205 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 8:21 am to
A buddy has a cleaning room that's top notch. Everything moves along a trolley system.

Starts with a winch above the beam outside to hang the deer straight from the bed of the ranger, then there's a scale inline with the beam, then a bunch of drains in the floor with ample space, and finally it rolls straight back into a walk in cooler. I'll throw up some pics.

Posted by SCwTiger
armpit of 'merica
Member since Aug 2014
5857 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 8:21 am to
Sounds like a good setup.
Mine is a towel and cutting board on the kitchen table, stainless bowls, a filet knife, and a hand tenderizer. My meat storage is a NC cooler on the back porch.
Posted by reds on reds on reds
Birmingham
Member since Sep 2013
4205 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 8:22 am to


This post was edited on 1/4/24 at 8:23 am
Posted by Kato
Sec 102
Member since Nov 2006
2773 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 8:24 am to
I’m so jealous right now
Posted by SCwTiger
armpit of 'merica
Member since Aug 2014
5857 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 8:26 am to
Damn that’s nice.
Posted by Sparty3131
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2019
647 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 8:27 am to
I have an outdoor shed on the other side of my carport with a dump sink that I build out counter tops around. Use a plastic folding table as well. Have a window unit for warmer months. I have a mostly empty fridge inside that I can keep meat in for a few days.

I have the giant cutting boards and stainless bowls from a restaurant supply place. Ducote's in BR. I like the Dexter 7" and 9" filet knifes a lot for the cut work. Handles don't slip when wet and hold and edge and re-sharpen easy. I have a 1/4 hp grinder. It works good, but I would upgrade to a 1/2 or 3/4 hp if I did it over again.

Hand crank stuffer for sausage works better IMHO. I clean all the surfaces before and after with bleach water or 409 w/bleach.
Posted by mcpotiger
Missouri
Member since Mar 2005
6931 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 9:08 am to
Now that is a nice set up!
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
11321 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 9:13 am to
I have a Weston 3/4 HP grinder and it'll chew meat up as fast as you can feed it.

Weston

If I had a dedicated space for it to live I'd go bigger. Don't really want to carry something bigger than that to and from the shed.

I have an 11 lb hand crank stuffer and an LEM ground meat packaging kit. They make putting up ground meat a breeze.


Amazon

I think my stuffer brank is Hakka. It's been solid for ~5 years. Only complaint is how much gets left in the tube when it empties.

This post was edited on 1/4/24 at 9:35 am
Posted by calcotron
Member since Nov 2007
8271 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 9:26 am to
We have 12 feet of clearance under the back deck, so I put a winch and use a cable and gambrel to skin and quarter there. From there to 2nd fridge (boneless) or ice chest (quarters) to dry out before butchering on a big island in the kitchen. So, not commercial or impressive at all. I would love a walk in cooler. When it's this cold, I could hang one under the deck for days, but the ones I shot this year were when it was warmer so all got cleaned right away.
Posted by tigerfoot
Alexandria
Member since Sep 2006
56306 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 9:27 am to
quote:

LEM ground meat packaging kit.
I will look into this, spooning it into the vac bags is a pain at times.
Posted by tigerfoot
Alexandria
Member since Sep 2006
56306 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 9:29 am to
quote:

I don't want to go full scale commercial, but maybe high end, high volume personal use.

I am planning on building a dedicated insulated "clean room" from the ground up that will include skinning rack, prep tables, sinks, butchering area, seal wrap and pack, and either a small walk-in cooler, or maybe a couple of glass fronts.

This sounds absolutely awesome. I am thinking of investing in a second garage fridge to hand quarters up in, I really like the taste better when it has been hung versus ice.

Aside from my grinder and big arse cutting board and big bowls, I have nothing else to offer
Posted by tigerfoot
Alexandria
Member since Sep 2006
56306 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 9:30 am to
quote:

When it's this cold, I could hang one under the deck for days, but the ones I shot this year were when it was warmer so all got cleaned right away.


Us too, seemed every deer killed was in short sleeves and in the evening
Posted by Jack Daniel
In the bottle
Member since Feb 2013
25474 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 10:13 am to
I swapped from vac sealing that bag setup for ground meat last year and I will never go back. I used my sausage stuffer with the largest tube to fill the bags then twist snap and done. Actually has less trapped air than the vac bags as well
Posted by No Colors
Sandbar
Member since Sep 2010
10408 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 10:22 am to
quote:

My meat storage is a NC cooler on the back porch.


Rating: Strong to Very Strong
Posted by No Colors
Sandbar
Member since Sep 2010
10408 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 10:26 am to
Reds:

That is strong as a garlic milkshake.

I would hate to know what you have in all of that. I am not sure what my budget is, but it is not that

But I may start out with that kind of footprint (12x24 is what I am thinking or maybe 16x24) and then I can add equipment as I go.

I have been very pleased at all the stainless sinks and tables that you can find on FB Marketplace used in the $200 range. And used glass front convenience store coolers are $200 to $350 which is also a good value. If the compressor fails, go get another one.

How expensive was that rail system? That would be a great luxury, but not sure I can justify it. I have kids and nephews for the heavy lifting
Posted by Got Blaze
Youngsville
Member since Dec 2013
8750 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 10:41 am to
R on R on R's processing room looks perfect. Sloped slab with drainage is essential. Just a few more ideas: shelving to get supplies off the floor and easy to see for inventory purposes. Plenty of electrical outlets, several water hook-ups for water hoses and run a hot water line. I'd build it large enough for a simple bathroom area which can be used as a mud room with space for a washer & dryer to clean towels and aprons.





Posted by Jack Daniel
In the bottle
Member since Feb 2013
25474 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 10:43 am to
The OB can spend money better than an ex wife
Posted by tenfoe
Member since Jun 2011
6847 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 10:44 am to
Some fine setups here. I just butcher them on my tailgate then use my wife’s kitchen island for the rest.
Posted by No Colors
Sandbar
Member since Sep 2010
10408 posts
Posted on 1/4/24 at 10:45 am to
quote:

I swapped from vac sealing that bag setup for ground meat last year and I will never go back.


Can you go into more details on why?? I am almost certainly going to get a commercial rated vac sealer. Just curious about which one to get and what people like or don't like about their setup
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