Skip to main content
Hunter examines his kill

DIY Game Processing

Not Just for Mountain Folk

"Self-­‐sufficiency" is a really cool idea for people who live in the mountains with the required space and resources for food processing needs. But what if you live in an apartment and/or drive a sedan? Can you still fulfill all the game processing needs you’ll face once you harvest a critter? Absolutely! These circumstances can expose non-­‐hunters that live by us to the fruits of our hunting labor, and they can also see how hunting can be done in any personal situation. By using some non-­‐traditional techniques we can spark some intrigue in a person's mind, and that intrigue can drive them to ask questions. These questions can create opportunities to talk about hunting and providing good food, and the chance to bring them on a hunt may even arise.

A Little Back Story

While having a love for hunting and providing good, organic meat for my family, I really struggled with the apparent need to have someone else process that meat. That need came from thinking that, because I no longer drove a truck and lived in a split-­‐level townhouse I didn’t have the right tools or space needed to process my harvest, but I was totally wrong. Being a diehard bowhunter that wants to get rid of his student loan debt, I hunt cheap, and that includes selling my awesome truck and buying a 4-­‐door Buick Regal. This car does set up really well for hunting though, in the trunk of the car I’ve got my hunting clothing tote, bow case, 1 treestand with climbing sticks, and all my other necessary gear. That leaves my back seat free and clear for the game-­‐changing tool of my game processing kit, my Big Frig 70 quart cooler. Here are the steps I take to process my deer with my Big Frig, and it’s a process that ANYONE can apply:

After the deer is recovered

  1. 1. Get the harvest out
    1. Cart out or pack out
      1. Use of a game cart is a great, and relatively easy, option, but using a frame pack is a great second option
      2. This is where you’ll want put in a little research on which method that would work best for you.
        1. YouTube is a great starting point for this research.
    2. b. Quarter-­‐up the animal in the field or at the car if you cart it out
      1. Be sure to get all the meat you want to process off the carcass now. (Neck, ribs, back straps, tenderloins, etc.)
  2. 2. Get it in the Big Frig
    1. Put the meat in the cooler
      1. Get ice on it a.s.a.p.!
    2. At the end of this point the cooler is loaded with meat and in the backseat of my car
  3. 3. Processing-­‐ again with this step there are MANY different preferences
    1. Research with YouTube and forums
      1. Ask around to find what you like best
    2. b. My Method:
      1. Lay out a couple layers of grocery store paper bags and start cutting up the quarters one at a time.
      2. Once cut and cleaned, wrap in freezer paper, and get into the freezer
  4. 4. Cook and enjoy
    1. My favorite part!

Conclusion

BBQ venison feast on platter."Through the circumstances, my eyes have been opened to the fact that I don’t need a truck or a skinning shed or big cleaning table in order to hunt and process my God-­‐given, harvest. We can hunt for our own meat, processed on our own tables, and provide great nutrition to our own friends and family regardless of our living or driving situation. All it takes is a little research, and possibly, a little extra effort to find the best method for you, but doing it yourself can save you hundreds of dollars each year. It can also be a great way to teach the next generation or non-­‐hunters about the opportunities of providing and processing their own, clean meat. If you have questions about this process, or just need some encouragement, please reach out.

Mentioned product links:

Other products I use and trust:

About the Author