Our store in New Athens, IL will be closed as of May 24th, 2025.

Lehr's Meat Market
Lehr's Meat Market
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    • Home
    • Butcher Shop
    • Deer & Wild Game
    • Summer Sausage & Smokies
    • Patriot Packages
  • Home
  • Butcher Shop
  • Deer & Wild Game
  • Summer Sausage & Smokies
  • Patriot Packages

quartered deer is not accepted, only whole deer and boneless

Deer and Wild Game Processing

AFTER NOV. 24TH 2024 ONLY BONELESS DEER MEAT WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR PROCESSING.

We will no longer skin or de-bone deer for the rest of this season.


NOV 22nd thru 24th 2024, we will still accept DEER FROM 6AM-6PM ON SOUTH SIDE OF BUILDING. 


QUARTERED DEER will NOT be ACCEPTED.


Trash bags are NOT food safe containers and will not be accepted.



The processing of wild game and deer for local hunters is a long-standing tradition in the rural community.


The Lehr family has been helping friends, farmers and hunters since 1854, when they first began processing wild game and livestock at the farmhouse in Lively Grove, IL. 


Today we take pride carrying this important piece of history into future generations, keeping our traditions alive, while also providing excellent service to all our customers no matter where their hunt takes place!


Important reminder: Illinois DNR (Department of Natural Resources) requires Lehr’s to have your tag, permit number and confirmation numbers for hunting deer. We cannot accept or process any deer without this information, so be sure you're prepared before going out onto the field! You must carry these in order to show them at all times - including when transporting your game back home from the hunt and to its final freezer.

Lehr's Meat Market Deer and Wild Game Processing Buck at sunrise

Order online, delivered right to your door. Lehr's World Famous Summer Sausage & Smokie Snack Sticks

When do we process deer?

Hunters can bring their deer to be skinned at our location between October 1st until the Sunday of the 1st shotgun season in Illinois. Any and all deer processed outside of this designated time frame must be de-boned prior to arrival. 


As Deer Season gets into full swing, let’s not forget that to keep your favorite meat clean and tasty, pack it up properly in food safe containers!  Trash bags are NOT food safe containers. 


All deer must be properly field dressed. A properly field dressed deer is done immediately removing the rectum/udder, bladder with a clean chest cavity. Keep your buck in a cold, dry place until he arrives here - at our place!


To make things easier on you, we suggest making an appointment with a member of our experienced staff so we can plan for YOU in advance; WE work hard every day but sometimes demand is high--help us, help you. 

Lehr's Meat Market Butcher Processing Deer and wild game processing

Perfect Snack for Hunting. Lehr's World Famous Summer Sausage & Smokie Snack Sticks

Menu / Price List

DEER PROCESSING

All Deer processing cost is calculated by Dress weight and sausage per pound requested. You decide how you want your Deer processed. You will be given an approximate quote at time of appointment or when you drop off your Field Dressed Deer. Website pricing is approximate and subject to change without notice.

Cut, Bone and Bag Deer Only

$1.09 Per Pound

Based on Dress weight

Vacuum Packing

$0.90 Per Pound

Vacuum sealed in clear packaging 3 millimeters thick 

Grinding Deer Meat

$1.29 Per Pound

$10.00 Minimum to grind your Deer

Cut Rack Off

$15.00

With Skull Cap 

Take Hide Home

$8.00

Any questions please refer to Q&A

Cool Only

$20.00

$15.00 first 48 hours

$15.00 each additional day

Skin and Cool with Disposal Fee

$38.00

Any questions please refer to Q&A

Skin For a Mount with Disposal Fee

$58.00

Pick up within 48 hours of drop off. Hide will not be stored.

Capes are placed in a box at pickup.

Disposal Fee

$5.00

Any questions please refer to Q&A


DEER SUMMER SAUSAGE

Lehr’s handcrafted deer summer sausage package includes pork, grinding, stuffing, casings, and smoking. **The below Basic pricing is for cold smoked old fashion recipe. By choosing cold smoked, old fashioned summer sausage the consumer assumes all responsible for proper care and aging. See suggested care instructions.

Minimum 10 Pounds of Deer Summer Sausage

Hot smoked/Cooked Summer Sausage

.80¢ Per Pound Extra

The Additional .80¢ per pound for hot/cooked smoked will apply to the below pricing. 

Deer Summer Sausage with 1/3 pork

$3.55 Per Pound

1/3rd pound Pork added to 2/3rd pound Deer 

Deer Summer Sausage with 1/3 pork, Jalapeno and Pepper Jack Cheese

$4.05 Per Pound

 1/3rd pound Pork added to 2/3rd pound Deer   

Deer Summer Sausage with 1/2 Pork

$3.75 Per Pound

1/2 pound Pork added to 1/2 pound Deer 

Deer Summer Sausage with 1/2 Pork Adding Jalapeno and Pepper Jack Cheese

$4.25 Per Pound

 1/2 pound Pork added to 1/2 pound Deer 

Deer Summer Sausage with 2/3 pork

$3.95 Per Pound

2/3rd pound Pork added to 1/3rd pound Deer 

Deer Summer Sausage with 2/3 pork adding Jalapeno and Pepper Jack Cheese

$4.89 Per Pound

2/3rd pound Pork added to 1/3rd pound Deer 


DEER SMOKIE SNACK STICKS

Lehr’s handcrafted deer smokie sticks package includes pork, grinding, stuffing, casings, smoking (Old Fashioned) and are ready to eat at time of pickup

Minimum 10 pounds Smokie Deer Snack Sticks

Regular Deer Smokie Sticks

$5.19 Per Pound

Choice of 1/2 Pork to 1/2 Deer or 1/3rd Pork to 2/3rd  Deer

Deer Jalapeno and Pepper Jack Cheese Smokie Sticks

$5.69 Per Pound

Choice of 1/2 Pork to 1/2 Deer or 1/3rd Pork to 2/3rd Deer

Deer Pepper Jack Cheese Smokie Sticks

$5.44 Per Pound

Choice of 1/2 Pork to 1/2 Deer or 1/3rd Pork to 2/3rd Deer


DEER BRATS

Lehr’s handcrafted deer brat package includes pork, grinding, stuffing and casings

Minimum 10 pounds of Deer Brats

Regular Deer Brats

$4.10 Per Pound

1/2 pound Pork to 1/2 pound your Deer only

Deer Jalapeno Pepper Jack Cheese Brats

$4.59 Per Pound

 1/2 pound Pork to 1/2 pound your Deer only 


DEER BURGER

Deer Burger Nothing Added

$1.79 Per Pound

Just your Deer ground into burger

Deer Burger With 20% Beef and Tallow Trim

$2.59 Per Pound

Deer Burger With 1/3 Pork Added

$3.09 Per Pound

1/3rd pound Pork to 2/3rd pound Deer 

Deer Burger With 1/2 Pork Added

$3.39 Per Pound

1/2 pound Pork trim to 1/2 pound Deer  

Good To Know

Suggested Care Instructions for aging old fashioned, cold smoked summer sausage:

One may be tempted to leave their summer sausage in the fridge until they can get “around” to curing it themselves, but this will not allow for proper curing. 


Wash your hands thoroughly. Hang your summer sausage as soon you pick it up. For the best environment to cure, hang them far enough apart so they do not touch each other in a controlled environment between 45-70 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 40-50%. If a powdery white efflorescence occurs on the sausages just clean off with a solution of vinegar and water. NEVER let your sausage freeze during the curing process.


The general rule of thumb is, at a consistent temperature of around 65 degrees your sausage should be ready to eat in approximately two-and-a-half to three weeks. You should be keeping a very close eye on the sausage after two weeks of hanging. The longer sausage hangs the harder and firmer it gets.


When your summer sausages have reached their perfect firmness, vacuum seal or wrap tightly by using freezer paper before storing away. Please follow FDA recommended guidelines for proper timeframe of refrigeration and freezing to maintain ultimate freshness and flavor. 

Jay Leno at Jay Leno's Garage with Crew enjoying Lehr's World Famous Smokie Snack Sticks and Summer

Jay Leno and Crew get it. Lehr's World Famous Summer Sausage & Smokie Snack Sticks are the best!

Goose Sausage

We have the capability to make a variety of delectable, wild game products from

Geese. 


Goose brats, summer sausage and smokie sticks are our favorites to craft for you from this majestic bird. The other great thing about these goose meats is that they cost the same as deer so it's an easy transition for anyone who likes either animal. 


We won't be able to start producing our delicious geese until early April though because of Deer Processing.


DISCLAIMER:

ALL GOOSE MEAT MUST BE GROUND TWICE PRIOR TO BEING BROUGHT INTO OUR PLANT.


Reason for this is the steel shot inside of your goose cannot be processed by our grinder and will cause damage to the machine, which is an expensive piece of equipment.


To make things easier on you, we suggest making an appointment with a member of our experienced staff so we can plan for YOU in advance; WE work hard every day but sometimes demand is high--so help us, help you. 


Our customers are important to us! 

Goose Hunter and bird dog. Lehr's processes Goose into sausage

Order the perfect Hunting snack - Lehr's World Famous Summer Sausage & Smokie Snack Sticks

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Lehr's Meat Market

102 South Van Buren Street, New Athens, Illinois 62264, United States

618-475-2088

Copyright © 2025 Lehr's Meat Market - All Rights Reserved.

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