Meat Processors in Sanders County, Montana

Sanders County offers rugged terrain for elk and mule deer, particularly throughout the Cabinet Mountains and the Lolo National Forest. When you fill your tag, getting your animal cooled and processed quickly is critical, especially during the early archery season or late season migrations. Logistics in this part of Western Montana can be difficult, so knowing where to drop off your harvest before you head back home is essential for any local or visiting hunter.

Currently, there is one main option for professional game handling in the county. Clark Fork Custom Meats in Plains provides full processing services for big game hunters coming out of the surrounding mountains. They handle everything from basic butchering to specialty sausage and jerky. Having a reliable shop in the Clark Fork Valley ensures your meat is handled correctly and ready for the freezer after a successful hunt.

2 meat processors in Sanders County

Serving Plains, Trout Creek.

Clark Fork Custom Meats

Meat Processor VerifiedClosed

Plains, MT

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Pat's Wild Game

Meat Processor VerifiedClosed

Trout Creek, MT

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Using meat processors in Sanders 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 Sanders County

Taxidermists (4)Bow Shops (1)