Question: Paying for a deer you didn't shoot

[Bruenor]

Here's the situation. A friend of a family member shot a buck recently. They took it in to be processed, but then couldn't come up with the money for the processing fee. Because of this, the meat has just been sitting in the freezer at the processing business.

Here's the question. I know that deer meat will be stamped "Not for sale", but in this situation would it be legal for me to pay the processing fee to the processor, and take the meat? This would, of course, be assuming that I had permission from the person who shot the deer.

 

[JBob77]

I am not sure, but I think I was told by a processor one time, that as long as they had held it a prescribed period of time, then someone could pay the processing fee, and It wasn't considered selling wild game.

Ask the processor. I would think that if anyone would have legal issues, it would be them, as the seller. If they would do that, then I don't blame you for getting the deer.

 

[22lr]

Give the money to them and have them pick it up and give you the meat.

 

[Mgderf]

My butcher has done EXACTLY that! You are not "buying the deer". You are paying a processing fee.

The way I understand it, if he charges you ONLY what he would charge anyone else, and ONLY charges processing fees, then he is providing the same service, at the same rate of remuneration, for the same services rendered.

He'll get into trouble if he tries to sell "to the highest bidder", or "for only this much more", etc...

I believe if it goes unclaimed, he still has the right to receive payment for services rendered.

If you're worried about it, as stated above, have your friend take your money in and bring you the meat.

 

[kycrawler]

Your paying for the processing not the deer . No money exchanged between you and the hunter . I am not a lawyer but seems within the law to me . Call the dnr and ask them to be sure thats part of their job also

 

[M4Madness]

You can go to the processor's and pay for it and take it home with you. You aren't buying the meat, you are paying the processor for his services.

 

[Mini-14]

Give the money to them and have them pick it up and give you the meat.

+1

Butcher I use sells (for his processing fee) any that wasnt picked up at the end of the season.

 

[trophy hunter]

my processer will sell any meat that hasn`t been picked up in a certain time frame...

 

[redneckmedic]

Should have brought it to "redneckmedic's butchery" would be done deal by now!

 

[Bruenor]

Thanks for the thoughts. I was pretty sure that I was ok, which is why the deer in question is currently sitting in my freezer. The processing fee was $108, but there was a decent amount of sausage involved, which raised the price. In all, I got 50 pounds of burger, about 30-35 pounds of roasts, steaks, and tenderloins, and four 15" packages of summer sausage.

I filled my freezer space, and the butcher reclaimed some money owed. Seems like a win all around.

 

[disengaged]

You are not "buying the deer". You are paying a processing fee.

 

[trophyhunter]

No harm in paying the butcher for his work, FWIW I always do my own for the sake of not paying the processing fee for a deer I didn't shoot, -always wondered how many guys actually get back the same deer they brought in?

 

[Cornbread]

My butcher has done EXACTLY that! You are not "buying the deer". You are paying a processing fee.

The way I understand it, if he charges you ONLY what he would charge anyone else, and ONLY charges processing fees, then he is providing the same service, at the same rate of remuneration, for the same services rendered.

He'll get into trouble if he tries to sell "to the highest bidder", or "for only this much more", etc...

I believe if it goes unclaimed, he still has the right to receive payment for services rendered.

If you're worried about it, as stated above, have your friend take your money in and bring you the meat.

This is very true. I have done this before and I called DNR before I did.

 

[AGarbers]

If memory serves me correctly, the law changed several years ago...

I believe the law changed a few years ago so that processors could sell any unclaimed wild game for the processing fee.

 

[xHwyLT]

I am not sure, but I think I was told by a processor one time, that as long as they had held it a prescribed period of time, then someone could pay the processing fee, and It wasn't considered selling wild game.

Ask the processor. I would think that if anyone would have legal issues, it would be them, as the seller. If they would do that, then I don't blame you for getting the deer.

JBob77 is correct, you technically are not purchasing the venison. You are paying for the processing. The butcher is getting paid for the processing, not selling the venison. This is a win win situation. Enjoy the venison, it's better than it going to waste, and the butcher is getting paid for his work.

 

[paddling_man]

I'm thinking that particular venison is probably bad by now.

 

[bw210]

I'm thinking that particular venison is probably bad by now.

Why? It would have been packaged and stored in the freezer - just like at anybodies home.

 

[paddling_man]

Why? It would have been packaged and stored in the freezer - just like at anybodies home.

It was a joke.

The poster did a "necromancer" on a thread that was over a year old. Late and night a couple (or four) beers for me. I found it funny.

Do you really believe the processor has been holding onto this unpaid venison for a year?

 

[bw210]

No harm in paying the butcher for his work, FWIW I always do my own for the sake of not paying the processing fee for a deer I didn't shoot, -always wondered how many guys actually get back the same deer they brought in?

Not to mention the $$. My hunting partner and I butchered up 9 deer total this year. Lots of brauts, summer sausage, grind, steaks, roasts, etc cut the way we want it. Keeping an average of $100 per deer with sausage/special cuts and we keep $900. Granted, we have minimal expense to package and there is a fair bit of work - but with the money saved I can get additional hunting clothes, more butchering tools, etc.

 

[bw210]

It was a joke.

The poster did a "necromancer" on a thread that was over a year old. Late and night a couple (or four) beers for me. I found it funny.

Do you really believe the processor has been holding onto this unpaid venison for a year?

I see. Up to late with squinty eyes to pick up on that. Must be slow tonight.