People ordering venison products at Maplewood Meats in Howard, November 27, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
HOWARD, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — After nine days, Deer Hunt 2023 is in the books.
Although deer harvest totals won’t be released until Tuesday, hunters are reflecting on the season.
Many who bagged a buck or doe are bringing those deer to get the venison turned into many different products.
“We’re seeing people coming off the gun deer season. A big influx. It’s pretty typical,” said Brad Van Hemelryk, Maplewood Meats Plant Manager.
The Monday morning wild-game processing line moved along at Maplewood Meats in Howard.
“We accept boneless, cleaned, and trimmed meat. The biggest thing is having it in food-grade containers, or food-grade bags. It can be fresh or frozen,” said Van Hemelryk.
Van Hemelryk says the facility turns venison into snack sticks, summer sausage, and more.
“Center of the plate items, or dishes. We offer andouille sausage. We offer bratwurst, restructured bacon. All different types of items that are not just for snacking, but you can make whole meals out of,” he said.
Hunter Bob Bloedorn says it was a successful campaign.
“We got four bucks, and two does. And we had a pretty good year. We had one lady that hunts with us. She shot her first buck this year, and it was a good year,” said Bob Bloedorn, Nichols.
Pam Kinjerski and her husband Dan Kinjerski say their four-point buck will be made into mushroom and swiss brats, and breakfast sausage. Dan says the weather in his area was good.
“I loved it. It was warm. I’m older. I get cold right away. I like the warmer weather for hunting yes. I saw a lot of deer this year. Quite a bit,” said Dan Kinjerski, Wausaukee.
Brad Van Hemelryk says each venison order comes with its own story.
“It’s a really neat part of our business, that a hunter can take a kill from the wild, that they’ve harvested, and that whole experience with family and friends, and we can take that and make it into a product, that they can go back and share with family and friends,” he said.
Now that the nine-day gun season is over, officials at Maplewood Meats say it typically takes two to three months to process and finish the venison orders.
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