Meat Processors in Iowa
320 processors across 91 counties · 101 take custom orders · 24 handle wild game
Donate a deer in Iowa: HUSH (Help Us Stop Hunger)
Any licensed Iowa hunter can donate any legally-taken wild Iowa deer, any season, any sex — at no cost to you. Take the whole field-dressed deer to a participating locker. The venison is packaged and distributed through the Food Bank of Iowa to families who need it.
HUSH (Help Us Stop Hunger) — official program page · See all 25 participating shops
Browse by county
- Adams (1)
- Allamakee (6)
- Appanoose (2)
- Benton (1)
- Black Hawk (6)
- Boone (1)
- Bremer (2)
- Buchanan (4)
- Buena Vista (4)
- Butler (2)
- Calhoun (2)
- Carroll (5)
- Cass (3)
- Cedar (3)
- Cerro Gordo (5)
- Cherokee (3)
- Chickasaw (5)
- Clarke (2)
- Clay (3)
- Clayton (1)
- Clinton (6)
- Crawford (6)
- Dallas (1)
- Davis (4)
- Decatur (1)
- Delaware (2)
- Des Moines (2)
- Dickinson (2)
- Dubuque (7)
- Emmet (2)
- Fayette (4)
- Floyd (1)
- Franklin (1)
- Fremont (2)
- Greene (1)
- Guthrie (6)
- Hamilton (6)
- Hancock (2)
- Hardin (1)
- Harrison (2)
- Henry (4)
- Howard (4)
- Humboldt (5)
- Ida (1)
- Iowa (8)
- Jackson (3)
- Jasper (2)
- Jefferson (2)
- Johnson (4)
- Jones (1)
- Keokuk (2)
- Kossuth (3)
- Lee (3)
- Linn (6)
- Louisa (3)
- Lyon (2)
- Madison (2)
- Mahaska (1)
- Marion (6)
- Marshall (2)
- Mitchell (2)
- Muscatine (7)
- O'Brien (6)
- Osceola (3)
- Page (1)
- Palo Alto (1)
- Plymouth (7)
- Pocahontas (1)
- Polk (13)
- Pottawattamie (12)
- Poweshiek (3)
- Ringgold (1)
- Sac (2)
- Scott (5)
- Shelby (4)
- Sioux (16)
- Story (5)
- Tama (1)
- Taylor (2)
- Union (1)
- Van Buren (2)
- Wapello (2)
- Warren (6)
- Washington (7)
- Wayne (1)
- Webster (4)
- Winnebago (1)
- Winneshiek (3)
- Woodbury (13)
- Worth (1)
- Wright (3)
Common questions
- How much does deer processing cost in Iowa?
Iowa has 109 confirmed custom processors listed here, and each shop sets its own price. For the 2025-2026 season, basic deer processing (skinning, cutting, grinding, wrapping) typically runs $100 to $150 at most Midwest shops, with the full national range roughly $75 to $250. Some processors charge per pound instead, commonly around $3.50 per pound of finished meat with minimums near $180. Specialty products cost extra: summer sausage and brats often add $50 to $100, jerky $30 to $75. Vacuum sealing usually costs more than paper wrap. Prices vary by shop, so call ahead and ask what's included. If cost is the deciding factor, 25 Iowa shops accept donated deer through HUSH (Help Us Stop Hunger), and that processing is free to the hunter.
Prices as of the 2025-2026 season. More on deer processing cost.
- How long does deer processing take?
Most shops run 2 to 3 weeks during the season, longer at peak (November). Popular lockers book out weeks ahead, and some stop taking deer when full. Call before you drive.
- When is deer season in Iowa?
Deer season dates in Iowa are set each year by Iowa DNR, and they change from season to season. Check the Iowa DNR deer page for the current archery, firearm, and muzzleloader dates before you plan a hunt.
- What do USDA inspected, state inspected, and custom exempt mean?
USDA inspected means a federal inspector is in the plant and the meat can be sold across state lines. State inspected means the state program inspects the plant and the meat can be sold inside that state. Custom exempt means the shop processes your own animal for you, and the meat comes back marked Not for Sale. Most small town lockers are custom exempt. How listings work.
- Can I donate a deer in Iowa?
Yes. Iowa runs HUSH (Help Us Stop Hunger), where hunters can donate a deer and the venison goes to food pantries. Take the deer to a participating processor and tell them it is a donation. Rules and cut-off dates vary, so read the program page first.