Minnesota Deer Hunters Find Support for Meat Processing During Rifle Opener
The Minnesota rifle opener has seen a successful turnout as hunters venture into the woods, hoping to bring home a prized deer.
Chalstroms Bait and Tackle, a well-known local business, stands ready to help hunters by offering meat processing services, ensuring that successful hunters have access to proper meat handling even if they can’t process it themselves.
“Today’s an opener and it’s been a very successful one for a lot of people,” remarked John Chalstrom, owner of Chalstroms Bait and Tackle. “A lot of deer coming in. It’s been a steady stream since about 10 o’clock this morning.”
This year, unusually warm weather has prompted more hunters to bring their deer in directly from the field, creating an early surge in processing requests.
Avoiding Common Deer Processing Mistakes
Field dressing and processing a deer comes with its own set of challenges. Chalstrom warns hunters against one common misstep: attempting to cool the animal by washing it with water.
“Adding water to a hot deer is not good. It really gets the bacteria and things going,” he cautioned. Bacteria like E. coli, salmonella, and listeria can be present in deer meat and may pose health risks if not handled correctly.
Instead, Chalstrom advises a straightforward approach: allow the meat to cool quickly and stay dry. “The best thing you can do is for [the deer] to cool down as quickly as possible. Cool and dry is what you want,” he explained.
He recommends propping open the animal with a stick to allow airflow and quickly reduce the internal temperature, a method many hunters use to help the meat remain fresh.
Local Processors Keep Hunters in the Game
Chalstrom’s services are invaluable for local hunters, especially those without the time or facilities to process their own meat. With Minnesota’s deer season in full swing, these resources support the hunting community and promote safe meat-handling practices.
For more details on Minnesota’s deer hunting season, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website.
Discover how local processors like Chalstrom’s support hunters with expert meat processing—find more insights on our homepage.
