How can I find a hunter/huntress to buy venison from?

[Anonymous]

Anyone out there ever buy venison directly from a local hunter? I'd love to fill my freezer for the winter but don't really know where to start.

[Anonymous]

Go west, young man. No seriously - I bet if you contact meat dressing facilities just slightly further west (probably Loudon and out), they'll sell to you or know someone who will.

And if you're willing to dress your own and see a deer accident, I bet the sheriff will let you have the carcass for free.

Or am I showing my hick roots?

[Anonymous]

Try a butcher. The one in Springfield usually has venison.

[Anonymous]

Call Pam at Wagshals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go west, young man. No seriously - I bet if you contact meat dressing facilities just slightly further west (probably Loudon and out), they'll sell to you or know someone who will.

And if you're willing to dress your own and see a deer accident, I bet the sheriff will let you have the carcass for free.

Or am I showing my hick roots?

Most states don't allow lockers to sell private (processed hunter or rancher carcases) fresh meat to the public. Simply due to private meat does not go through FDA approval process/grading. You would have to purchase directly from the private party. That said, wild game is becoming more and more popular and available at many restaurants. This means more and more suppliers are offering wild game and many will also have public outlets. I wouldn't be surprised if your local Whole Foods had venison. If not on hand, they probably could order it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go west, young man. No seriously - I bet if you contact meat dressing facilities just slightly further west (probably Loudon and out), they'll sell to you or know someone who will.

And if you're willing to dress your own and see a deer accident, I bet the sheriff will let you have the carcass for free.

Or am I showing my hick roots?

Most states don't allow lockers to sell private (processed hunter or rancher carcases) fresh meat to the public. Simply due to private meat does not go through FDA approval process/grading. You would have to purchase directly from the private party. That said, wild game is becoming more and more popular and available at many restaurants. This means more and more suppliers are offering wild game and many will also have public outlets. I wouldn't be surprised if your local Whole Foods had venison. If not on hand, they probably could order it.

^^^ I meant USDA.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the leads!

[Anonymous]

Pennsylvania.

[Anonymous]

You will habe to fine a hunter. There are only 2 USDA certified butchersIin VA north of the shenandoah valley.

I'd fine a hunter, pay him to kill a deer and pay the processing fees. You must know a hunter or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will habe to fine a hunter. There are only 2 USDA certified butchersIin VA north of the shenandoah valley.

I'd fine a hunter, pay him to kill a deer and pay the processing fees. You must know a hunter or two.

Where are they? Names of shops?

[Anonymous]

I have a freezer full that I would share with you if we still lived in D.C., OP. My family hunts. I wouldn't want to buy venison from a hunter that I didn't know extremely well. As you know, the way a deer is harvested, field dressed, and processed can have a huge impact on the taste. Even more importantly, you need to know that the deer was handled properly, processed in a clean facility and stored at the right temperature. If you don't personally know a good hunter, I would buy from a butcher.