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Meat Processors in La Plata County, Colorado

Hunters coming out of the Weminuche Wilderness or the San Juan National Forest often need a reliable spot to break down an elk or mule deer. The rugged terrain here makes for tough pack outs, so having a local processor ready to handle the carcass is essential for preserving the meat.

La Plata County currently has one primary option located in Bayfield. Rocky Mountain General Store and Custom Meats provides professional processing for big game harvested in the high country. When you are coming off the mountain with a load, it is best to call ahead to ensure they have the cooler space available for your harvest.

3 meat processors in La Plata County

Serving Bayfield, Durango, Marvel.

Using meat processors in La Plata 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.

Other services in La Plata County

Taxidermists (1)Bow Shops (1)

Meat Processors in nearby Colorado counties

Adams County (1)Arapahoe County (1)Archuleta County (2)Baca County (1)Chaffee County (1)Conejos County (3)Custer County (1)Delta County (5)Dolores County (1)Eagle County (1)El Paso County (4)Elbert County (2)Fremont County (2)Garfield County (2)Gunnison County (2)Jefferson County (1)Las Animas County (2)Lincoln County (1)Mesa County (3)Moffat County (3)Montezuma County (1)Montrose County (1)Morgan County (1)Park County (1)