Season Regular firearms deer season: Nov 28 to Dec 13, 2026 · Archery and flintlock reopen Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 24, 20272026-27 CWD rule changes →
Deer Processors PAIndependent PA deer processor directory
Pennsylvania deer & wild game processor directory

Find Deer Processors in Pennsylvania

306 deer processors, custom butchers and smokehouses across 61 counties. See who takes Hunters Sharing the Harvest donations, who is a PGC-approved CWD cooperator, and who has after-hours drop-off before you load the truck.

306Listed processors
110HSH donation partners
69PGC CWD cooperators
61/67Counties covered
Two white-tailed deer standing in a hardwood forest
Rifle season opens Nov 28
CWD rules changed for 2026-27NEW THIS SEASON

You can now move a harvested deer between any two locations, including out of a Disease Management Area. Statewide, high-risk parts (head, backbone, spleen) must go out with commercial trash once the deer is moved, or be left at the harvest site. What changed →

Highest rated on Google

Top-Rated Deer Processors in PA

Ranked by Google rating weighted by review count, one pick per region.

Browse all 306 processors →
Venison donation program

Hunters Sharing the Harvest

Tag it, drop it at a participating processor, and the venison is ground, packaged and sent to Pennsylvania food banks. Sponsors cover the processing, so donating is typically free for the hunter.

01Field dress & tagKeep the harvest tag attached and get the deer cooled.
02Drop at an HSH butcher110 participating processors are listed here.
03Feed familiesVenison goes to regional food banks and pantries.
Find HSH processors near you
Volunteers sorting food donations
Field to freezer

Standard Deer Cut Breakdown

Know what you want before you fill out the cut sheet. Most PA processors work from the same primal cuts.

PrimalCommon preparations
Backstraps & tenderloinsWhole, butterfly chops, medallions
HindquartersRound steaks, roasts, jerky strips
Shoulders & neckPot roast, stew meat, grind
Flank, ribs & trimBurger, sausage, bologna, snack sticks

Read the full processing guide →

Cuts of meat hanging in a cooler

How to pick a deer processor in Pennsylvania

Know this season's CWD rules. For 2026-27 the Game Commission dropped the rule that kept deer from Disease Management Areas tied to approved processors. You can take a deer from anywhere to any shop. The catch: once a deer leaves the kill site, the head, backbone and spleen have to go out with commercial trash, which a processor handles for you. If you want a free CWD test, drop the head at a PGC bin or ask the shop to hold it.

Call before opening weekend. Most Pennsylvania shops fill their coolers in the first days of rifle season and some stop taking deer until they catch up. Ask how long they're running, whether they want the deer skinned, and what their cutoff time is. Only 15 of the 306 shops here advertise after-hours or 24/7 drop-off, so plan around business hours if you hunt till dark.

Know what you want back. A basic cut-and-wrap gets you steaks, roasts and burger. Snack sticks, bologna, jerky and sausage usually cost extra and take longer, sometimes weeks. Only 31 listings publish any pricing, so get the base rate and the add-on prices over the phone. Ask whether burger is mixed with beef or pork fat if you care about that.

Check the reviews, then the details. A high Google rating from a handful of reviews tells you less than a solid one from a hundred hunters. Our city rankings weigh both. After that, look at what matters to you: Hunters Sharing the Harvest participation if you plan to donate, caping if the buck is going to the taxidermist, and vacuum sealing if the meat is headed for a chest freezer.

Counties with the most processors

Lancaster County

22 processors listed, 8 HSH partners, 9 CWD cooperators. Top rated: J Mark Martin Custom Butchering (5.0).

York County

15 processors listed, 1 HSH partner, 1 CWD cooperator. Top rated: Shoemaker's Butchering (5.0).

Westmoreland County

12 processors listed, 3 HSH partners, 1 CWD cooperator. Top rated: Espey's Meat Market (4.9).

Butler County

11 processors listed, 8 HSH partners, 1 CWD cooperator. Top rated: Welters Meat Shop (5.0).

Berks County

10 processors listed, 3 HSH partners, 3 CWD cooperators. Top rated: Christman's Meats & Deli (4.9).

Crawford County

10 processors listed, 3 HSH partners, 2 CWD cooperators. Top rated: Field's Custom Slaughtering (4.9).

Field rules & drop-off

Frequently Asked Questions for PA Hunters

Do I have to tag my deer before taking it to a processor?

Yes. The 2026-27 PGC rules say big game must be tagged immediately after harvest and before the carcass is moved. The tag goes on the deer's ear and stays attached until the deer is processed or prepared for mounting. You also have to report the harvest to the Game Commission within 10 days, online at HuntFish.PA.gov or by phone at 1-800-838-4431.

Can I move a deer out of a CWD Disease Management Area this season?

Yes. For 2026-27 the Game Commission dropped the rule against moving deer and high-risk parts between locations, including out of DMAs. In exchange, high-risk parts (head, backbone, spleen and a few others) must be disposed of through a commercial trash service once the deer is moved, or left at the harvest site. Dumping them anywhere else is illegal statewide. PGC announcement.

What is a PGC CWD cooperating processor?

A processor or taxidermist approved by the Game Commission for disposing of high-risk parts properly. Hunters are no longer required to use one for deer from DMAs or other states, but the PGC still publishes the list. The Game Commission may sample deer at processors, but that doesn't guarantee your deer gets tested.

How do I get my deer tested for CWD?

Drop the head, double-bagged with the filled-out harvest tag attached, in a PGC head collection bin. Testing is free and results usually take two to three weeks. Bin locations are on the PGC CWD map, and the CWD hotline is 1-833-INFOCWD. Tell your processor first so they save the head for you.

How do I donate a deer to Hunters Sharing the Harvest?

Take a legally tagged deer to a participating HSH processor and fill out the donation form there. Program sponsors cover processing, so donating usually costs the hunter nothing, but rules vary by shop, so call ahead. Program details are at sharedeer.org or 1-866-474-2141.

I shot a deer in another state. Can I bring it to a Pennsylvania processor?

Under the 2026-27 rules, the PGC no longer bans moving deer and high-risk parts between locations, so you can bring it to a processor here. Once it's moved, high-risk parts have to go out with commercial trash. Check the other state's export rules before you leave.

When is the 2026 Pennsylvania rifle deer season?

The statewide regular firearms season runs November 28 through December 13, 2026, Sundays included. Statewide archery ran October 3 through November 20 and reopens December 26, 2026 through January 24, 2027, the same dates as the statewide flintlock season. Some WMUs have extra seasons; check the PGC digest.

How current are these listings?

Listings are compiled from the 2026 Hunters Sharing the Harvest processor list, the PGC cooperating processor list and public business listings. Hours and intake rules change during the season, so always call before dropping off a deer.