Sportsman's Blog

Okay, you’ve shot or arrowed that prized deer so now what do you do with it?   Even though many hunters are choosing to cut up and package their own meat these days, other hunters still prefer to pay having these services provided by a professional.   Certainly nothing wrong with that…but how does one know whether they’re getting the best value for their money along with wholesome food safety?

Remember, even the basic processing and packaging costs can run upwards of $100 per deer.   Tack on specialty processing like sausage making, curing or smoking and the final tally on the cash register could easily approach $300 for a large deer.   Here’s a list of some basic questions you might consider asking a meat processor before you engage their services this fall:

1. Is the facility registered by MN Dept of Ag?   Make sure the processor in which you’re dealing with abides by the meat handling rules set forth by the State of Minnesota.

2. When last was the processing facility inspected?  Keep in mind the Minnesota Dept. of Ag has a designation for meat processors called “Custom Exempt Meat Processor” which means less frequent sanitation inspections.   If the meat processor is not regularly selling over-the-counter meat to the public you might want to ask about when their facility was last inspected by the state.

3. What is your trimming policy around any wound channels?   Now with the recent concern regarding the potential for lead toxins due to bullet fragmentation, processors are being asked to be aggressive in cutting away damaged meat.   The processors make more money by the pound, but ensure you’re getting the safe meat you want by discussing this concern.

4. Will my meat be commingled with venison from other hunters?   Quite often it is because to make it worthwhile to do a batch of sausage, bologna, etc. it typically requires some volume.   If this practice concerns you, now is the time to discuss it with the meat processor to discover any alternatives that may be available.

5. Are grinders being regularly checked for lead fragments and cleaned?   Impress upon your meat processor the importance of thoroughly cleaning equipment before any of your venison is ground.   It should be done this way between customers, anyway.

6. How is the meat packaged?   Explain how many servings per package is ideal for your family.   Also, if the meat will likely be in the freezer for some time, consider paying a bit extra to get all cuts double-wrapped to further prevent freezer burn.

7. When will the cutting occur?   Unlike beef, most venison is not purposefully aged before processing.   Asking this question is more about learning how busy the processor is and discovering how the meat will be stored in the meantime.

8. How soon will the meat need to be picked up?   Are there storage fees?   Good questions to ask for schedule planning.

9. Can I see a price list?   Can you estimate the final cost?   Always request a price list.   Knowing in advance what your total costs could amount to will help avoid any “sticker shock” situations.   It also helps for family budgeting just to know in advance.

10. Is there a money back guarantee for processed venison items?   A good processor will have samples for tasting when you bring in your deer to write up the order.   The expectation is for your meat to taste similar to those samples.   If that situation doesn’t occur and you discover the meat to be rather unpalatable, what recourse will you have?

Now, granted some of these questions might hint as though you’re questioning the meat processor’s integrity.   Well, my experience has been that a reputable and responsible professional will gladly answer any concerns you might have about their food handling practices.   After all, the service they are providing can ultimately concern the health and well-being of your family and your friends.

As a final note, several meat processors are again this year accepting donations under the Minnesota Venison Donation Program sponsored by the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, the Minnesota DNR, and the Minnesota Department of Ag.   If you have quality, wholesome venison to donate…please consider this worthwhile program that helps fill area food shelves.

© 2009 Jim Braaten.   All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

In a former career I worked on an Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance service for about a dozen years.   During that time, I responded on thousands of 911 calls ranging from the utterly ridiculous to the downright deadly serious.   Oddly enough, there were two calls that continue to stick out rather vividly in my mind.   Both emergencies involved hunters who had fallen from their tree stand.

I suppose one of the big reasons these incidents struck a deep chord with me was because I, too, am a hunter and could easily imagine myself as the unfortunate victim lying there.   Let’s face it…spend enough time out in the woods and accidents will happen.

Sometimes you get lucky, then again, sometimes you don’t.   Problem with tree stands is the margin for error is rather slim.   One wrong move or misstep and down to the ground you go.

Back 30+ years ago hunter restraint systems were rather basic and functionally inadequate.   In most cases they consisted of a web strap wrapping around the hunter’s waist with another strap tied off to the tree.   I suppose at the time this seemed sufficient as a safety mechanism, but in reality the early designs often constituted a different sort of hazard to hunters who had taken a misstep.   At times a hunter would be left hanging with so much pressure on the straps they were unable to release the adjustment mechanism.

Well, fortunately those days are long gone.   Today’s modern tree stand safety harness systems have become so high-tech and comfortable it just makes good sense to use them.   Besides, not only are they much more functional…but maybe it’s time we also consider them to be even fashionable.   Consider this.

This past week the Sportsman Channel announced that beginning in 2010 all programming on their popular network must include hunters using appropriate tree stand safety devices and approved procedures.   In fact, the network’s official policy states that any scheduled episode that does not adhere to guidelines set forth by the Treestand Manufacturers Association will be removed from the weekly programming slot.   That’s a serious stance.

“We’ve received positive feedback from our producers and manufacturers on this move and we hope that other manufacturers will join the effort,” said Willy Burkhardt, President of Sportsman Channel. “Sportsman Channel is setting the standard in the outdoor industry for others to follow. We want to ensure that all sportsmen watching our programming are shown the safe and ethical ways to hunt, shoot and fish.”

While I certainly applaud the Sportsman Channel’s efforts…it makes me wonder what might be next for those of us who enjoy deer hunting from elevated tree stands without any cameras rolling.   Is it possible that Fall-Arrest Systems(FAS) or Full Body Harness(FBH) devices might someday become mandated for our use, too?   I certainly wouldn’t rule out that possibility.

In the meantime, with Minnesota’s archery deer hunting season only four weeks away now is a good time to consider how you might start playing it a bit safer out in the woods this season–especially when using elevated tree stands.   Keep in mind a good FAS or FBH system will likely set you back upwards of $150 or more.   Sure, that sounds like a lot of money…but it’s probably still less than the deductible on your medical coverage if you need to have a broken arm set in a cast (or worse) at the emergency room.

Believe me, I understand how practices such as wearing seat belts in a car or protective devices in a tree stand can be perceived as restricting your freedom of movement.   Ultimately, the choice will always be yours to make whether or not you want to use any kind of safety device.

Yet, if you haven’t taken a closer look lately at the type of safety equipment available for the deer hunter it’s time to check it out. 

As I recall, in both instances when I responded in the ambulance the hunters involved would have fared much better had they followed safety procedures and employed the correct protective equipment.   More importantly, both hunters suffered such debilitating injuries that their deer hunting was curtailed for the remainder of that particular hunting season.   I guess eventually we all have to ask ourselves…is it worth continuing to take those unnecessary health risks?

© 2009 Jim Braaten.   All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.