Pork and Beef Processing: We do not process whole animals, but can refer you to a local butcher.
We have a commercial smokehouse that can accommodate large quantities of hams, bacons and sausage. Our smokehouse utilizes advanced technology including humidity control and product showering delivering a consistent product every time.
Hickory Hill Smokehouse offers USDA “custom exempt” (labeled not-for-sale) curing, smoking and sausage making services (Bacons, Hams, Loins, Smoked Kielbasa, Italian Sausage, etc.). Curing and smoking whole muscle meats (pork bellies, hams, shoulders, loins) the fee is $3/lb. based on green weight (incoming weight). Slicing and vacuum packaging bacon is an additional $1.50/lb. Sausage making is an additional charge, please inquire. Specialty topical rubs can be applied to bacons like pepper & garlic, apple cinnamon or everything bagel seasoning, for a additional charge. We split or leave smoked hams whole and vacuum package (provided the whole ham(s) fit in our vacuum package machine) at no additional charge. At this time we do not cut ham steaks. All products are labeled “not-for-sale” and include your name and packed on date. Importantly, please make sure your pork or beef is kept cold (less than 41F at all times) and is very clean free. Transport in clear bags, and/or butcher paper in a cooler. No dark garbage bags or grocery bags, since many contain chemicals.
All pork must be skinless, which helps with our brining/curing process; we will remove the skin for an additional skinning fee of $9/per belly and ham. We will not cure hams or bacons with skin on.
Drop-off appointments are required. Please call 518-875-6048 for more information and/or to schedule a drop off appointment, we do prefer the pork to be fresh, not frozen whenever possible, which makes coordinating a drop off time and date very important to our process. A week’s notice or longer is preferred.
Venison Processing: Only New York State harvested deer (meat) is accepted.
No whole deer, we only take frozen boneless venison chunks and pieces for further processing. We do NOT accept venison that has already been ground. We carefully examine the venison prior to grinding.
ATTENTION Deer Hunters – Please read carefully:
Venison is dropped off by appointment only. Please make sure to bring the NYS DEC deer carcass tag associated with the venison. No out of State venison will be accepted. When you arrive we will weigh your venison, and go over the menu of options and complete the intake paperwork with you.
Use extreme care when field dressing your deer. Clean and rinse thoroughly and prop open the cavity to cool down the carcass as quickly as possible – pack with ice if needed. Quarter and refrigerate if the temperature outside exceeds 41F. Venison will spoil quickly in warmer temperatures. You can age venison (quartered) in your refrigerator for up to a week if outside temperatures are too warm.
Click on the link below to learn more about the items we produce. Minimum amount of venison for each SMOKED/COOKED item is 15 LBS. At least 10 LBS of venison is required for non-smoked items like fresh Italian sausage, loose breakfast or ground venison, etc. Pork is added to all stuffed, smoked items typically at a rate of 15 LBS of venison plus 10 LBS of pork for a total batch size of 25 LBS. Your cost is based on finished weight (the weight of the finished product returned to you.
Fresh sausage (NOT smoked/cooked) is made with 50% venison and 50% pork. Venison is very lean and adding pork is needed especially when making sausage, otherwise the finished product will be dry & crumbly. Please keep this in mind when placing your order – processing fees are based on finished weight. If you wish to have your venison hind quarters smoked like a ham, please leave the bone in. Smoked venison hind quarters are delicious and are cured and hickory smoked like our holiday hams – fees for curing and smoking hind-quarters or pieces are based on incoming (raw) weight.
For sausage making, we only process venison that has been boned out (except hind-quarters for smoking), thoroughly cleaned, free of dirt, most blood clots and hair. Please do your best to remove most of the silver skin. IMPORTANT: The meat you bring us MUST BE CLEAN and pass the “smell test” OR WE WILL NOT TAKE or USE IT. We can recommend a local processor to bone-out your deer. Boneless venison must be brought into us frozen in FOOD GRADE BAGS, we prefer gallon sized zip lock or larger clear plastic freezer bags or whenever possible, vacuum sealed. A gallon size freezer bag fully packed weighs approximately 5/lbs. NO trash bags or plastic carry out shopping bags will be accepted – most trash bags are chemically treated. We take great pride in producing high quality products, however the quality of the venison you provide us is directly related to the quality of the product you get back from us.
Unlike most venison processors, WE DO NOT comingle your venison with another customers or make community batches, which takes us more time and labor. Our grinding, mixing and stuffing equipment is sized to do smaller batches. This is why we require specific minimums (incoming venison amounts) for each item you select, as such our minimum batch size with pork added is typically 20-25/lb. Please note processing times vary, but are about 2-4 weeks from the time of drop-off. We will call you when your order is complete.
Special Note for Venison Jerky: We produce whole muscle jerky only, therefore we need whole muscle pieces. For example: boneless hind quarters trimmed into roasts, whole tenderloins. Avoid shoulder meat, and other venison trim. Prefer the silver skin is removed, but not required. We need 15/lb. of venison per batch of jerky. The yield after smoking and drying is approximately 45%.
Click on the following pdf link to view our current prices for 2024-2025 and list of products we make (subject to change):
***Vacuum packaging and labeling of each package with your name and date is included in all pricing****
Please do not hesitate to call with any questions – we would be happy to review our process with you & give you a tour of our shop!
Other add-ons:
> Add cheddar cheese to any product for an additional .75/lb added to the finished weight.
> Add dried Jalapenos to any product for an additional .75/lb added to the finished weight.
Please contact us to schedule a date and time to drop off your meat. Please don’t forget to bring the NYS DEC Carcass tag associated with your venison at time of drop-off. We will not accept any venison without a valid tag. Beginning in November of each year we book up very quickly and encourage you to get your name on our calendar to drop off. Scheduling drop off dates are typically about one month out.
PAYMENT Requirements:
A cash deposit is required at time of drop off.
$50.00 deposit for orders estimated at $500 or less
$100.00 deposit for orders estimated at $500 or more.
$200.00 deposit for orders estimated at $1000.00 or more.
Storage Fees:
We ask that you pick up your order within a week of being contacted. Storage fees apply on the 8th day after you have been contacted at a rate of $15/day to be added to your final invoice. After 30 days of storage the product will be discarded.
New York State Sales Tax:
All custom processing fees are subject to New York State 8% sales tax – Schenectady County.
Processing fees already reflect a 4% discount for cash or check. However, we do accept credit cards for venison or pork processing subject to a 4% processing fee.