Meat Processors in Mercer County, Illinois

Mercer County hunters usually head toward Viola when they need a deer handled after a successful day in the timber. The local terrain produces some heavy-bodied bucks, and you need a shop that knows how to break them down properly. Having a reliable spot nearby makes it easier to get your harvest out of the field and into the cooler without a long drive.

Smith's Custom Meats & Deer Processing, Inc. handles the work in this area. They take care of the basic cuts and specialized grinds so you can fill your freezer for the winter. Whether you are hunting the creek bottoms or the ridges, this is the main option for getting your venison processed locally.

1 meat processor in Mercer County

Serving Viola.

Smith's Custom Meats & Deer Processing, Inc.

Meat Processor VerifiedClosed

Viola, IL

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Using meat processors in Mercer 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 Mercer County

Official Scorers (1)