Deer processors gearing up for hunting season

Posted 9/3/20

Gear up for a big hunting season.

For two local families, deer processing is both a business and a passion.

Elvin Ebersole of Bellview Deer Processing and Ronnie Payne of Deer Feathers …

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Deer processors gearing up for hunting season

Posted

Gear up for a big hunting season.

For two local families, deer processing is both a business and a passion.

Elvin Ebersole of Bellview Deer Processing and Ronnie Payne of Deer Feathers Taxidermy and Processing provide the critical nexus between the hunter, the kill and filling the freezer.

According to Megan Radke of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), statewide there were 20,000 more hunting licenses sold on the first day of open purchase this year than last. 

Granted, that is a statewide number, but it is reasonable to infer that the number of hunters in Wood County will show a notable increase this year. The ability to secure one’s own supply of natural protein is a logical outcome of the coronavirus, much as the increased planting of family gardens was earlier in the year.

Alan Cain, the TPWD white-tailed deer program leader, described the deer herds in Texas as “stable and healthy.”  He explained that a good balance exists between the major deer herds and the number of hunters. With an average deer harvest of half a million deer annually, and between 600,000-700,000 hunters in the state, the balance works out nicely.

“The hunters manage the deer herds,” Cain noted, “and by managing the deer herds we protect the habitat, which benefits all native animals.” In short, the present deer hunting regime in the state works. 

Once the morning temperature puts a slight crispness in the air, county residents think of two things: football and deer hunting.

The excellent hunting grounds in Wood County will surely yield strong numbers of deer this year and will highlight an often-overlooked facet of the community, wild game processing. 

After the adrenalin of the hunt has dissipated, there is a lot of hard work required to harvest the meat promptly and safely.  

Ebersole and Payne grew up as sons of professional butchers.

Ebersole is the third generation of butchers in his family. The family roots reach back to the Mennonite community in Pennsylvania.

Ebersole’s father, Ronald, relocated to Kaufman County in 1988. The younger Ebersole began assisting his father at the age of two. Ronald still operates a beef meat market in Emory. 

Ronnie Payne was likewise greatly influenced by his father and “Papaw.” His family origins are in the Weatherford area. His father, Ron, now makes his domicile in Yantis, and remains an integral part of the Deer Feathers family.

As with any two barbers or mechanics, the two butchers differ slightly in their approach to deer processing.

“I try to get all the meat possible,” Ebersole explained, “even the neck and ribs.”

He explains how skill and attention to detail are very important to processing a deer.

He stressed “the end result of my work must make me hungry.” 

Payne reflected that he approaches each carving session as if he were preparing the meat for his own family. “I try to obtain the very best quality of cut,” he explains. 

Both professionals share the standards of no dirt, no blood and no hair in their meat products. They agreed that safety and cleanliness are the highest priorities. 

Payne, who spent his whole adult life running meat markets in large groceries in the Dallas area, is well aware of the industry standards for grocers. He applies many of those same standards to his operation.   

Both men operate out of renovated outbuildings on their property.

Bellview Processing is located in an old milking barn on Ebersole’s property just west of Alba, while Payne has rebuilt an outbuilding just east of Winnsboro on FM 852. 

With wife Malinda and a young family, Ebersole runs Salad Bar Farm which specializes in regenerative agriculture. His beef cattle operations and vegetables are “as organic as I can be,” he explained. He hopes to soon add goat milk production. His skill as a butcher greatly augments farm productivity each season. 

Ebersole has a bit more motivation in the form of three youngsters – a 4-year old and two toddlers. “I really desire to work the farm with them as they grow,” he expressed. 

For Payne the venture into deer processing was a lifetime in coming. It had always been a dream, which with the convincing support of his wife Tina, was realized with the opening of Deer Feathers in 2014. As Payne explained, “We have been blessed in so many ways; this business was not on our schedule, but His.” 

Deer Feathers processes about 350 deer per season. Bellview handles approximately 150 a season. It is clear that both proprietors take immense personal pride in processing each individual deer. “One animal, one customer at a time,” as Payne summarized.    

While some hunters are practiced at gutting, skinning, quartering and processing their own kills, there are many others who count on professional processors. The convenience of service and cost-effectiveness are matched only be the confidence that the meat is clean. 

From a hunter’s perspective, fresh natural meat in a variety of cuts and sausage is a satisfying result of a successful season. For the State of Texas, processors represent a big part of the convenient and timely manner in which to conduct deer harvests.

For Elvin Ebersole and Ronnie Payne, it represents a commitment to quality meat, a livelihood and stewardship of the natural world.