Josh Clark, the manager of Cutting Edge Meat Market in Piedmont, South Dakota, expanded his wild game processing capabilities to meet the increasing demand ahead of the hunting season. He added more equipment, refrigeration space, and did summer advertising to let hunters know they can process their deer, elk, and other game at his shop.
As the number of commercial and self-employed meat processors willing to handle wild game dwindles, Clark’s actions were well-received by hunters as they have seen a 30% to 40% increase in animal drop-offs compared to the previous year. Other meat shops in the area confirmed they are not taking in whole game animals for various reasons, including worker shortages, higher expenses, or simply not wanting to deal with the hassle of wild game processing.
The shortage of wild game processors has also led to hunters struggling to find places that will process their game animals, potentially leading to animals being wasted or left in the field. Some hunters may even decide to give up hunting altogether if they cannot find processors willing to handle their animals.
Home-based butchers like Rex and Cheryl Roseland are also seeing an increase in demand for wild game processing. They are taking overflow animals to help out hunters who are struggling to find places that will accept their game. With the state’s Game, Fish & Parks Department not regulating the wild game processing industry, hunters and processors are navigating these challenges on their own.
Despite the challenges, processors like Clark and the Roselands are committed to helping hunters access processing services and continue to uphold conservation goals in South Dakota. With the hunting season in full swing, these processors play a vital role in ensuring that the state’s hunting economy and wildlife population are maintained.
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Photo credit www.yahoo.com
