Hello all,

I am planning my first deer hunt this year in November. I have no experience with selecting a deer processor or what to look for.

I like in Houston Texas near Katy Texas. I am going on a guided hunt 3 hours away from Houston.

Questions:

1.Can you please recommend a good quality and healthy deer processor in Houston Texas?

2. What type of deer meats cuts should I ask for? I have only ate deer sausage.

3. What type of things or questoins should I consider when going to a deer meat processor?

4. What size cooler should I buy to keep the meat cool when I travel back to Houston?


Thanks,

Kovasavicks in Rosenberg

Thank you so much TxBuck,

I live near Rosenberg as well.

Bellville Meat Market. About 15 miles N of Sealy on HWY 36. We have used Midway in Katy for years but, after trying out some of Bellville's products, we'll be going there from now on. Bellville processes YOUR deer individually.

What to ask for...

Backstrap and tenders whole.

Maybe some tenderized round steak from one of the hams.

A roast or two for the crock pot.

Hamburger.

Link, smoked sausage.

Pan sausage.

Hunters Sticks (like a slim jim).

Summer sausage.

Last but not least, get all of it vacuum sealed!

agree with fouzman ... although I have never used Bellville Meat Market, I have heard good things about them. my SIL lives in Katy and will likely be using them when he takes a deer from his ranch near Carmine.

also agree with the with all the above cuts selection ... just keep in mind, that most processors have a minimum poundage for various types of sausage and can drive the costs up quite high.

I used a new to me processor up in the Fairfield area that had an opening weekend party of sorts with some of their products for taste testing out front. That sold me on several types of their sausage, so I got x lbs of polish, x lbs german, x lbs summer, x lbs of snack sticks, plus back straps & tenders out whole ... and when I picked my deer up, it was over $400 ... uh, yeah, it was very good but holy smokes was that way above what I was expecting price wise!!! I believe their basic processing (tenderized steaks, backstrap, hamburger) all vacuum sealed is around $90 ....

with that said, being your first deer ... you might want to try the wide variety to see what suits your taste buds best, then you will know what to get on the next deer processed ... just be aware that the cost for a variety can quickly get expensive.

Arnold's in Hempstead has a 10lb min, for sausage, buck sticks, summer sausage etc.

thanks, yes ... and each type of sausage will likely have a different price per pound ... that's what bit me ... most of the link sausage was $4-6/lb but the snack sticks were $9-10/lb ...

Some processors charge .90 cents a pound and some charge as much as $2.00 a pound for deboning. Makes a big difference in your cost. I think it is a good idea to see what they stuff your sausage in. Some casing is too tough .

Thank you so much fouzman,

Questions please:

1. What does "Bellville processes YOUR deer individually." means?
2. What do you mean by "hams"? Ham comes from pig, right?
3. Why is it important to vacuum sealed?

Thanks

Thank you very much PMK,

What are the different type of deer cuts I can try? I am new at this. I guess I can ask the processor their cuts and fees.

I do exactly that except the rounds and roast. We can't get enough hunters sticks. Dang good most places. I need at least least 25 bs ground though and 15 summer sausage jalepeno cheese logs to make it.

1.Processing your deer individually versus some other places that process in bulk. Hamburger and sausage, for example. There may be other people's deer meat included in ground venison, and yours in theirs.
2. By hams, I meant hindquarters.
3. Vacuum sealed will last longer in your freezer. Butcher-wrapped freezer burns much more easily.

Fouzman hit the nail on the head. Bellville hands down

Also consider praseks. 2 locations and always consistent. Get some supreme burger. Excellent for making burgers, tacos, meat balls etc....anything that uses ground meat. I used their i10 location at Sealy last time. Very well packaged and labeled.

Praseks near El Campo and I think they have one near or in Sealy. I have been using them for about 10 years now, after trying a lot of other places. They process your deer individually, not combined with others. Excellent quality and flavor.

I use the plain old white 150qt Coleman coolers that you can buy at Sams, Academy or Walmart for about $80. If you quarter the deer, you can get two of them in one cooler pretty easily. The cooler also comes in handy when you go pick up the meat from the processor.

All listed are very good and another close by in Fulshear is Dozier's. They do a good job as well but Belleville is my favorite.

I've used Midway the last couple years, but took my last deer of the 2018 season Prasek's in Sealy and was impressed. I'll be going to Prasek's this year.

These are all good however been using Slavacek's in Snook (West of College Station) since 1977. Hands down the best. Get it all made into sausage - you won't be disappointed.

I started using Bellville Meat Market a few years ago as well. Very pleased with the product I get back from them. Dirty Rice smoked sausage is very good.

Arnold's in Hempstead has about the best venison boudin I have had and I usually take enough meat there to get the 25 lb order.

Yep, this year I am going to get some boudin with a pepper jack cheese added to it, that should make it real supple.

I also like their tamales.