Billings, MT
Meat Processors in Yellowstone County, Montana
Yellowstone County hunters typically bring their elk and deer into Billings for professional processing. The city serves as a regional hub for those coming off the surrounding prairie or returning from the mountain ranges to the west. Having a reliable facility in town is essential when you have several hundred pounds of elk meat that needs to be cooled and broken down quickly before the drive home.
Top Notch Meats in Billings handles custom processing for local sportsmen throughout the general season. They provide standard butchering services including steaks, roasts, and burger. Most hunters in this part of Montana look for quick turnaround times and professional vacuum sealing to ensure their meat stays preserved in the freezer through the winter months.
1 meat processor in Yellowstone County
Serving Billings.
Using meat processors in Yellowstone 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.
