Save Money and Get More From Every Harvest by Processing Your Own Wild Game

Every hunter knows the feeling of filling a tag. But once the excitement wears off, another question comes up: Should you process your deer yourself or pay a processor? 

For many hunters, learning to process wild game at home isn’t just rewarding. It’s one of the best investments they can make. With the right equipment, you can save hundreds of dollars every season while having complete control over how your venison is prepared. 

The Cost of Professional Processing 

Wild game processing fees have steadily increased over the past several years. Depending on your location, a basic deer processing package can cost anywhere from $150 to over $300 once specialty items like snack sticks, bratwurst, summer sausage, or jerky are added. 

Harvest two or three deer a season, and those costs can quickly climb to $500 or more. For families who fill multiple tags each year, the expense adds up even faster. 

Invest Once. Save for Years. 

Instead of paying processing fees season after season, many hunters choose to invest in equipment that pays for itself over time. 

The BigBite® #12 Grinder is the perfect example. Whether you’re grinding burger, making breakfast sausage, crafting bratwursts, or preparing snack sticks, the BigBite #12 is built to handle large batches of wild game with ease. Processing your own meat also means you control the fat ratio, seasoning, and quality of every package that goes into your freezer. 

For hunters who process even a couple of deer each year, the savings can begin to offset the cost of the equipment surprisingly quickly. 

Protect Your Investment 

Processing your own meat is only half the equation. Proper storage is just as important. 

The MaxVac® 300 Vacuum Sealer helps preserve the quality of your hard earned harvest by removing air before freezing. Vacuum sealed packages stay fresher longer, reduce the risk of freezer burn, and keep your venison tasting the way it should months after the season ends. 

Whether you’re freezing burger, steaks, roasts, or sausage, vacuum sealing helps ensure none of your hard work goes to waste. 

Know Exactly What’s on Your Plate 

One of the biggest advantages of processing your own wild game is knowing exactly what you’re feeding your family. 

You decide how each cut is trimmed, how much fat is added to ground meat, what seasonings go into your sausage, and how every package is labeled and stored. There are no surprises, no mix ups, and no wondering if you’re getting your own deer back. 

That level of confidence is hard to put a price on. 

More Than Just Saving Money 

Learning to process your own game is another way to become a more complete hunter. It creates a deeper appreciation for the harvest and ensures every usable pound of meat is put to good use. 

While the upfront investment in equipment may seem significant, it can quickly pay for itself through years of reduced processing costs. Pair the BigBite® #12 Meat Grinder with the MaxVac® 300 Vacuum Sealer, and you’ll have a setup that’s ready to turn every successful season into a freezer full of high quality wild game. 

The hunt doesn’t end when the tag is filled. It ends when you’ve made the most of every pound of meat, and there’s no better way to do that than processing your own harvest.