Wild Game Preparation

We Cut and Prepare Your Meat

Wild Gaming Hunters Attention Please

At Owen’s Riverside Meats we prepare your game so that all you have to do is take it home and try one of our recipes!

Bring your wild game in for processing and we can turn it into Jerky, Pepperoni, Breakfast Sausage, Summer Sausage or make it into beautiful steaks and burgers.

Please make sure you have cleaned and skinned your carcass properly before bringing it to us.

Field Care Basics

The way you handle game after it’s harvested can have a significant impact on the quality of the meat.

  • The growth of bacteria is the cause of spoiled meat.
  • Three factors contribute to bacteria growth.
    • Heat: Heat is the number-one concern. Bacteria grow rapidly in a carcass, especially if it’s allowed to stay warm. Meat begins to spoil above 40° Fahrenheit. The higher the temperature—and the longer the meat is exposed—the greater the chance of spoilage. This is particularly true with large game.
    • Moisture: Moisture also encourages the growth of bacteria.
    • Dirt: Dirt can introduce bacteria.

Field Dressing Techniques

Basic field dressing techniques help cool game by removing entrails. This lowers body heat by allowing air into the body cavity.

  • As a rule, it’s best to field dress immediately.
    • When cooling the body, use available shade. Hang deer, if possible. For larger animals, such as deer, elk, and moose, you should prop the carcass open with a clean stick to allow air to circulate.
    • In warm weather, it’s helpful to place squirrels and doves in a cooler after dressing, as long as they remain dry.
    • Dispose of entrails carefully. Don’t leave them lying by the side of a road or near a residence where they can be dragged home by a dog.
    • Keep meat clean by covering it with cheesecloth. This also protects it from flies, which lay eggs in exposed flesh. Rubbing meat with black pepper also will repel insects. If you have to drag the game to camp, try to keep dirt and debris out of the chest cavity.
    • Because moisture damages meat, don’t use excessive amounts of water to wash the cavity. Allow it to dry.
  • MAKE SURE YOU SKIN THE ANIMAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW THE CARCASS TO COOL (cover with game bags to keep it clean)

What you will need

These are some basic essentials you will need to clean and skin your carcass.

  • Pepper (this helps to repel insects while you are skinning your carcass)
  • Knife
  • Knife Sharpener
  • Game Bags (to keep your carcass clean)
  • Small Saw
  • Rope