Resources / Care for your venison

Transporting venison cleanly

Keep a deer cool, protect meat from contamination, and check carcass-transport restrictions before moving your harvest.

Reviewed October 6, 2026

This is general guidance from the cited sources, not a description of the shop’s processing methods. Follow product-specific instructions and current official safety advice.

Seasonal source review scheduled: due by 2027-07-01. This is an editorial deadline, not a season date. Check the linked official sources for your season and location before acting.

Keep the load clean and cool

Penn State Extension recommends keeping a deer cool during transport, out of sunlight, and with adequate air circulation. It specifically advises against carrying the deer across a car’s hood or roof, or putting a still-warm deer in a trunk.

Transport the carcass to a processing facility as soon as practical. Plan the trip around confirmed intake availability so you do not arrive at a closed shop with a warming harvest.

Source: Penn State Extension: Proper Care and Handling of Venison from Field to Table; Penn State Extension: Canning and Freezing Venison

Prevent leaks and contact with other food

TWRA advises using a cooler, bin, or bag that will not leak fluids into the environment when transporting animal portions. Keep raw meat and its juices away from ready-to-eat food and clean equipment.

Use suitable cooling and containment together. A closed container without adequate cooling does not establish that a load is at a safe temperature.

Source: TWRA: Regulations and Hunting with CWD; Penn State Extension: Proper Care and Handling of Venison from Field to Table

Clean transport must also be legal transport

Tennessee restricts importing certain cervid parts from other states and moving carcasses out of its CWD Management Zone. Do not assume that a processor’s willingness to accept deer makes the trip legal.

Check TWRA’s current rules for the harvest location and destination before loading. Keep required tagging and harvest-confirmation information with the animal.

Source: TWRA: Regulations and Hunting with CWD; TWRA: Tag Before You Drag

Checklist

Call (615) 604-3887 every time before bringing a deer, in every season.
Keep the deer cool and out of direct sunlight.
Contain fluids and protect other food.
Check wildlife transport rules and carry confirmation information.