OMG this is good!

[TRnCO]

I've had the pleasure of eating game meat processed at Steve's and it was good. As far as summer sausage, I had my whole whitetail done into summer sausage this past season, but since I was in KS. hunting, I had the local locker plant process it and thankfully the plant has won numerous awards for their summer sausage and man is it good. Of course I knew that going in since my family has used them since the beginning of time. Summer sausage is so awesome because it can be a snack with crackers and cheese or make a manwich with it. We love it around here too.

[sniper7]

Used to go to Steves a lot but found Hudson lockers. Cheaper and just as good!!! I did two elk a whitetail and a bunch of ducks and geese there last year in every possible thing they offer and it's all amazing!

I have had issues with getting the same meat back from Steves. A buddy shot an elk with a bow and ended up biting down on a chunk of copper/lead.

[One Shot]

Used to go to Steves a lot but found Hudson lockers. Cheaper and just as good!!! I did two elk a whitetail and a bunch of ducks and geese there last year in every possible thing they offer and it's all amazing!

I have had issues with getting the same meat back from Steves. A buddy shot an elk with a bow and ended up biting down on a chunk of copper/lead.

We have found copper bullet fragments in the deer we had processed at Steves. I like handing out pepper sticks etc to friends and family but I can't do this with that deer. Because of this I am going to process our own this year.

[fitz19d]

Just spitballing, but any chance of it being a older hunting wound?

[Graves]

Just spitballing, but any chance of it being a older hunting wound?

That would be my first thought.

[hurley842002]

That would be my first thought.

Mine as well.

[rondog]

Just spitballing, but any chance of it being a older hunting wound?

I'd assume it to be very possible, even likely, to find an old bullet or fragment in an animal. There's a lot of people out there shooting at them, and not always legally. Plus the possibility of pass-through bullets or fragments hitting a second animal, etc. I sure wouldn't automatically blame the processor for it. Hell, after we'd dressed and quartered my first deer and they were working on a second one a young lady had shot, they found a mystery bullet in that deer while skinning it.

[Grant H.]

Unfortunately, lots of meat processors don't/won't guarantee that you are going to get your meat back.

My older brothers and I just butchered a cow by ourselves because we have had issues with getting other meat back when we take cows in.

[GilpinGuy]

A guy I hunt with knows someone who works at Steves. He said that there is always some meat left in the grinder after doing someones animal. They don't clean the grinder after every animal, so you might get some meat that's not yours. I have no idea if this is true but it makes sense I suppose.

I was kinda put off when my bull burger came back from Steves with copper in it. I shot it in the neck and didn't think the bullet could have travelled to the meat I harvested, but it is possible I guess.

I plan on butchering myself the next time. I just need to learn how to do it anyway.

[CO Hugh]

We have a butcher that comes to the house and with an assistant takes about 2 hours per elk. They will grind and supply beef fat or suet. No fancy sausages you have to do that yourself. Excellent job.

Check at local meat shops to see if any of the butchers will process, CO Dept of Agriculture has a licensee list that may help. I don't think its hard to do yourself but the experience of a butcher makes it go fast. They cut pretty quick. You may also need a heavy duty meat grinder, like a hobart, and they are pricy. I've been looking on craig's list and auctions for a while to find a cheap one.