In the early season, if it is hot and the night won't be cool, I will just drop it off locally and have them take care of it. As soon as it is cold enough to hang a couple days, we will butcher everything.
My buddies and I have been talking about going in on an insulated shipping container that we would setup as a walk-in cooler using a CoolBot for a few months a year.
Our deer season closes tomorrow so a grandson made his last hunt today.
View attachment 54155
He sent me this photo mid-morning.
Awesome.
The rifle looks like a Remington Mod 700
In the first couple of years many moons ago, I did take my deer to the processor. Back then the cost was $25 -$35.
Problem was, with all the deer being dropped off on opening weekend, you never knew if it was really YOUR deer or a mix of several when you picked it up. Since then we've been processing our deer for over 45yr.
When it comes to elk, I'll have it processed and flash frozen in Colorado for the two day trip home.
Moose comes home quartered and taken to a local processor that we trust. Waty too big to try and do myself.