I know that J&J in Elkhart got a lot of positive comments on this thread, but the locals around Anderson County have been telling me all day that they've been closed for 2 years and are still trying to sell the business. The lady at the local day old bread store, who lives in Elkhart sez her husband found a guy this year that they loved the meat and sausage from....Manana I'll see If I can shake loose from the "honeydo's" and go see what I can find down there. It'd be hyper easier to come home thru Crockett & Elkhart...or just Elkhart alone to get to Hwy 19 into Palestine.

Went up the road this afternoon to see the folks at Herrington's in the Elmwood Community off Hwy 155 north of Palestine. They are a little pricy but solid processor's who have a very big regular customer base of locals who hunt out of state. They are about wrapped up for the year but still accepting orders, and will be my fallback processor, as they are only about 15/20 minutes from the house. They get the processing job for the Axis herd that are fed out in a pasture south of Oakwood on Hwy 79, across the turnoff from the RV Campground. The Range I shoot at is just across the RR tracks from the high fence pasture the Axis are usually in. The range belongs to the guy who owns Buffalo Spt Goods... a very old friend from my Gun Rep Days 40 years ago.

Talked to Frankie Svehlak about 10:30 this morning and he is closed for the rest of the year, until next year's deer season, as per usual. I really like that old gentleman and will have to figure out how to give him some business next year.

Talked to a lady at the place in "Fairfield" this morning too.. only it ain't in Fairfield ...they actually are in Streetman on FM 833...she priced me some decent prices by the pound for processing which averaged out to about $100-$125 per critter if I skin it and start the cutting off of this and that on a carcass. This last year Santa gave me a battery powered mini sized circle saw that I plan on "grooming" all my carcass's with before I get to a processor to lighten the per Lb Gross weight charges. The little saw just eats thru hot dog & bigger sized tree limbs in seconds with no splinters & oughta be equally fast on pelvic, spine & leg bones and be super fast at unbuttoning the chest plate, leg & hip bony sockets.
Ron

Has anyone ever used the processor in Archer City?

I'll disagree with you, there is ONE processor I've found that will take this level of care with your deer. Svelak's in Ennis, Tx. He's an older fella that runs a small family shop, and does it right from the minute your deer arrives. He cuts up a deer, cleans, then starts another. I would eat off of any surface in his shop. When you cut open a package of meat it is ready to prepare. He sections out and steaks each segment (every morsel is cut across the grain) and there is no muscle, grizzle, or anything but meat in the package. He makes awesome sausage, my family loves his breakfast style. I'm not a kielbasa lover, but people rave about his.When he gets enough deer he stops taking any more until he has a chance to catch up. I can drop a deer off on my way home on a Sunday, and will get a call that it's ready by Wed.that same week. He costs a bit more than some, but does a far better job than any other I've used in the past (from San Angelo to far east Tx, and many in between). When you drop a deer off, he checks it in, he cuts it up, you pay him when you pick it up, and he pulls your meat out of the freezer. I've literally never witnessed anyone else touch my deer at his shop.

ANYONE HAVE A RECOMENDATION IN WICHITA FALLS?

ANYONE HAVE A RECOMENDATION IN WICHITA FALLS?

Whitakers, Iowa Park. I hunt the panhandle and on my way back to DFW I drop off there. Right off 287, Harmony Road Exit. It is on my way, but I'd go out of my way to use them. Clean, quick, reasonable and have a fantastic breakfast sausage recipe.

I took a mule deer there last year on my way back from the panhandle. I usually process my own, but because of timing I had to drop it off. I had some sticker shock just because processing prices in general have gone way up over the last few years, but I was very happy with everything. Great services, great packaging, and everything was clean. Definitely recommend.

Start doing your own, it's not that hard. Initial investment is minimal and before you know it you'll be making sausage and lots of other good stuff. Haven't paid a processor in almost 50 years.
I consider it part of the hunt.

How many hours, start to finish, to process one complete deer? I'm talking about blending sausage, tenderizing back strap, grinding, packaging, etc.

I do my own too. My wife asked me to do a few with a processor since the one we did on Monday took some time. I'll still do a few at home and will take a few to others. I don't like taking it to people for a variety of reasons.