Deer Processing Guide for PA Hunters
How to get a deer to the processor in good shape, what to put on the cut sheet, and what to expect back.
1. In the field
Field dress quickly, prop the cavity open and get air moving through it. Keep the harvest tag attached. In warm weather, pack the cavity with bagged ice and get the deer to a cooler as soon as you can.
2. Choosing a processor
- Call first during rifle season; many shops fill their coolers on opening weekend.
- Ask about after-hours drop-off if you hunt late.
- Want a CWD test? Tell the shop to save the head, or drop it at a PGC head bin yourself.
- Want a mount? Tell them before skinning so the cape is saved.
3. Filling out the cut sheet
| Primal | Common choices |
|---|---|
| Backstraps | Whole, butterfly chops, medallions |
| Tenderloins | Whole, usually packed together |
| Hindquarters | Round steaks, roasts, jerky strips |
| Shoulders & neck | Pot roast, stew meat, grind |
| Ribs, flank & trim | Burger, sausage, bologna, snack sticks |
Burger is often mixed with beef or pork fat; say if you want it 100% venison. Specialty products like bologna and snack sticks usually take longer and cost extra.
4. What comes back
Estimates vary with the deer's size, shot damage and how much trim you keep. The National Deer Association puts it around 48 percent of field-dressed weight in boneless venison, and the PGC publishes a deer weight chart with edible-meat estimates by chest girth. Turnaround depends on the shop and how full its cooler is; smoked products and sausage take longer than basic cuts.
Drop-off checklist
- Tag it right away. Tag the deer immediately after harvest and before you move it. The tag goes on the ear and stays there until the deer is processed.
- Field dress and cool fast. Remove entrails, drain the cavity and get the deer cold. In warm weather, pack the cavity with bagged ice.
- High-risk parts go in the trash. New for 2026-27: you can move a deer anywhere, but once it leaves the kill site the head, backbone and spleen must go out with commercial trash. A processor handles that for you.
- Report within 10 days. Online, by phone at 1-800-838-4431, or with the digest report card.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.