Somerset, CO
Meat Processors in Gunnison County, Colorado
Gunnison County hunters typically deal with heavy elk and mule deer coming out of units like 54, 55, and 67. When you drop an animal in the backcountry here, the high elevation helps with cooling, but you need to get the meat to a facility quickly to ensure quality. Local options are limited, so most guys head straight into the town of Gunnison once they reach the pavement.
F Bar Processing in Gunnison handles wild game for those coming off the surrounding public lands. They provide standard butchering, vacuum sealing, and sausage making for elk, deer, and pronghorn. It is best to call ahead during the rifle seasons to check their cooler space, as they fill up fast when the weather turns and the migration starts.
2 meat processors in Gunnison County
Serving Gunnison, Somerset.
Gunnison, CO
Using meat processors in Gunnison County
A processor skins, quarters, ages, cuts and packages your animal, and can turn trim into sausage, snack sticks or jerky. Many shops post cut sheets in advance and cap how many animals they take per day during peak weeks.
What to ask before you commit
- Are you accepting deer right now, and is there a daily cap?
- Do I get my own animal back, or is trim pooled?
- What is the base price and what do specialty products cost per pound?
- Do you have after-hours drop-off, and does the animal need to be field dressed?
- How long until pickup, and how is the meat packaged?
What it usually costs
Basic cut-and-wrap is often a flat fee per animal, with sausage, sticks and jerky charged per pound on top. Specialty products regularly cost more than the base processing itself.
Timing matters
Warm weather is the enemy. Field dress immediately, keep the carcass shaded and open to airflow, and get it to the processor the same day when temperatures are above the 40s.
