Pay processing or haul it raw?

[Ange86]

Making my first Newfoundland trip in October and wanted to hear from guys that have done both. I’ve always butchered my own (elk/deer/pigs/birds etc) but am most concerned with border crossing issues? We’ve hauled elk back (Colorado to Kentucky) without issue. always built coolers that fit the bed and store our gear and sleep on top if need be. Meat on racks and ice and/or dry ice below with drainage. From what I understand, outfitter has a place to keep it cool until departure, but if that turns out to be a bust I’ll be forced to do processing. Thanks in advance

 

[medvedyt]

from canada to usa you will need the bones removed from the meat so unless you have time someone will have to do it for you.

 

[Thebigbaby]

Raw dawg fo sho.

 

[WMR]

Brother and I brought two moose back from Canada. We did one each way. Brother killed his on day one, so it went to the processor. While that was being handled, we continued the hunt. I shot mine later in the hunt. We had a trailer with a freezer as well as multiple coolers. Brother’s bull came home cut, wrapped and frozen. Mine, bagged and cooled, got processed back at home.

We bought back no part of the brain or spine. The legs came back still on the bone. No issues whatsoever at the border.

Good luck to you. I hope you get a big one.

 

[WMR]

FWIW, I very much prefer to age my venison prior to processing. That’s not always possible, but I do so whenever I can.

 

[Ange86]

FWIW, I very much prefer to age my venison prior to processing. That’s not always possible, but I do so whenever I can.

That’s a large part of doing my own processing