Meat Processors in Lake County, Illinois

Finding a reliable place to bring a deer is getting harder in this part of the state, especially with shifting regulations and land use in Lake County. When you are hunting the northern marshes or private woodlots near the Chain O'Lakes, you need a shop that understands how to handle game properly to ensure none of the meat goes to waste.

There is currently one primary option for hunters in the Antioch area. Old Mill Creek Country Store provides local processing services for those coming out of the field in the northern end of the county. Having a local contact helps get your harvest into the cooler quickly after a successful hunt.

1 meat processor in Lake County

Serving Antioch.

Old Mill Creek Country Store

Meat Processor VerifiedClosed

Antioch, IL

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Using meat processors in Lake 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 Lake County

Taxidermists (1)