Clean Meat Lockers?

[Fall Guy]

Hi Guys! I know there are a lot of you Iowawhitetailers out there and I could use your input on something. I have traditionally done all of my own butchering of deer harvested and have never even been to a meat locker here in the Des Moines area. A friend of mine dropped off some venison at a local locker (a few miles outside of Des Moines) and was very unimpressed at how the place was run -- particularly from a cleanliness standpoint. Are there any lockers in the Des Moines area (45 min. radius) that any of you have been impressed with with? And do you think that the Des Moines area could use a clean locker that does quality work - run by intelligent/service minded people?

Wanted to get some thoughts from people with experience here.

I would also welcome any input on local lockers from you guys who are not from central Iowa or not even from Iowa for that matter.

 

[Rudd]

little farther than your 45 mile radius (about an hour) but Dayton Locker is one of the best in the state. Located just off I-80 Exit 182 Malcom. Their Cajun Bacon is awesome. Award winning locker.

 

[muddy]

too long of a drive for you is the cascade locker. Giles Meats is awesome in both service and cleanliness. i reccommend them to ANYONE. their hot rods are awesome, especially if you put some jalopenos in them.

mmmmmmmmm.....jalopenos.

 

[Bowhunt]

I take some meat every year to Ridgeport (just north of Boone) to have some brats and sausage made. They are priced really reasonable and everything turns our great that I have had done up there.

 

[chessieman]

I take my (boned) meat to Maxwell to have summer sausage with hot pepper cheese and sticks done.No pork just deer.Turns out great.All my buddies say it real good.You won't be disappointed! Good luck.Chessieman.

 

[moose270]

bone out your meat and wait till after season a bit and drop off your meat, it is hard to keep a locker tidy when you push a couple thousand deer a year through it. i cut meat in the off season and it is near impossible. alot of the locker just wiegh the meat and throw it in piles some rarely do you get your own meat back. we do though make sure everyone gets there own deer back, we do them one at a time and we have three stations. lots of work

mike

 

[mole]

Ditto to what Rudd said about Dayton Lockers. They have someof the best brats around.

If you want to make sure you get your own meat back Sully locker is an excellent choice. Deer sticks with jalapenos and cheese are great.

mole

 

[Two Beards]

We've used the Milo Locker for the past few years and they are by far, the best we've used. They will have my business until I learn how to process my own.

 

[firedog]

I'm out of the lockers permanantly! I've had nothing but headache after headache with these places. My buddy bought some equipment and we're are slowly tranforming over to doing it ourselves. I think about all the hard work, time spent, not to mention all the money spent over a course of a hunting season, and then have nothing but problems. Glad to hear some of you are having better luck than me!