Where to Buy Elk Meat? (11 Best Places & BONUS Recipe)
Elk meat is one of the healthiest and most flavorful meats available, and it can be a great addition to any meal.
As a dedicated carnivore lifestyle adherent, I like the fact that elk is very lean meat, so it is low in calories and fat but high in protein.
But elk meat is not found at your local grocery store, so how do you go about getting it if you are not a hunter?
I did the research, and below you will find some of the best locations to order elk online.
Quick Summary
- You can buy elk meat from reputable sources online, like Fossil Farms and SayersBrook Bison Ranch.
- When choosing a provider, consider factors like sourcing, processing, selection, shipping, price, and customer service.
- Elk meat is a healthy and lean protein option that can be used in various recipes.
- If you want to experiment with other game meat and try out new recipes, check out our review of best meat delivery services for wild game.
11 Places to Buy Elk Meat
If you're hunting for high-quality elk meat, here are excellent places to consider:
1. Fossil Farms
The elk from Fossil Farms are free-range, wild-fed, and humanely raised. Their elk meat is all-natural and hormone-free.
The suppliers of these animals pasture-raised them on 60,000 acres in central Canada and New Zealand.
Fossil Farms offers a variety of elk products, including ground meat, steaks, chops, osso buco, summer sausages, and elk burgers.
You can order online and have the meat shipped directly to your door.
2. SayersBrook Bison Ranch
This Missouri-based company offers a wide variety of elk products, including chili, tenderloin, ribeye steak, chuck, elk Denver leg, and filet mignon.
The elk at SayersBrook are grass-fed and free-range. They are never given added hormones or steroids.
In addition to purchasing elk meat online, you can get other game meats like boar, bison, moose, and ostrich.
3. Blackwing Meats
Blackwing's elk are raised on 100,000 acres of open land in North America. The elk roam freely and eat a natural grasses, bark, and foliage diet.
These elk are raised without added hormones and antibiotics and are never given GMO feed.
Blackwing meat delivery provides all the basic cuts of elk and less common options such as elk kabobs, brisket, tongue, heart, tendons, and an elk Philly cheese steak.
The company will freeze any of these products and ship them directly to your door via UPS.
4. Northfork Canadian Bison Ranch
Northfork is a Canadian company based out of Quebec. They have a wide variety of elk products, including roasts, elk steaks, and elk burgers.
All the Northfork elk eat only natural forage or supplements from 100% plant-based sources. They are never given animal byproducts.
The company does not use any hormones or antibiotics in their animals.
You can order online, and they will send the meat to homes and offices throughout North America.
5. ElkUSA
Based in southwest Colorado, ElkUSA offers ranch-grown elk for customers throughout the contiguous 48 states via air delivery.
They also ship via less expensive ground transport to SD, WY, UT, CO, NE, IA, KS, OK, NM, and portions of MT, ID, MO, TX, and NV.
The company has just about any part of the elk that you could want - from filet mignon to soup bones. You can also purchase various elk-based products like jerky, sticks, kabobs, and patties.
6. Exotic Meat Market
Of all the items that the Exotic Meat Market offers, elk is actually one of the most mainstream - they offer moose, beaver, bison, and more.
They import pure-bred Wapiti elk from New Zealand. Their suppliers are independent, small farms that feed their herds on natural leaves and grass.
The animals are not given any antibiotics, growth hormones, or steroids.
The company offers a wide range of cuts, including steaks, chops, roasts, ground meat, elk burgers, and even less common choices like French-racked ribs, elk pepperoni, and nine types of elk sausage.
Also Read: Best Exotic Meats
7. IGourmet
IGourmet has a more limited supply of elk products than many other companies on the list.
Moreover, they do not source their elk directly from a ranch. Instead, IGourmet gets its elk meat from Blackwing Meats.
And the only cut they offer is ground elk to prepare venison burgers with. However, you can also get elk sirloin as part of a variety pack with buffalo meat and Piedmontese beef steaks.
8. Pearson Ranch
Pearson Ranch is a family-owned ranch that has been in business since 1959. They are located in New Mexico and are focused on the meat snack business.
Their elk is hosted naturally on the ranch's pastures and never given any steroids, growth hormones, or antibiotics.
The company offers a wide selection of smoked elk products like sticks, summer sausages, and jerky. You can order these products online and have them shipped directly to you.
9. Cabela's
Cabela's is a well-known retailer that specializes in outdoor gear and equipment. But they also sell a variety of food products - including elk meat.
You can purchase elk medallions, elk sausage, and summer sausage.
They also have an elk sampler platter that will give you elk roast, elk stew meat, liver, filet mignon, sirloin, bratwurst, as well as elk snack meats.
10. Hunter's Reserve
Hunter's Reserve is a family-run and woman-owned business specializing in wild game meat snacks. They humanely source their elk and do not use fillers in their products.
They offer a variety of elk snacks, including summer sausage, trail sticks, and even a jalapeno elk jerky. The company also offers a four-pack of elk medallions that can be slow-cooked or grilled.
Orders are shipped from Minnesota to any location in the lower 48 states.
11. Broken Arrow Ranch
Broken Arrow was founded in 1983 and has been shipping meat to individuals since 2007. Based northwest of San Antonio, they harvest game from 40 ranches across Texas.
Broken Arrow's elk products include ground elk, burgers, patties, filet steak, boneless loin, elk stew meat, and chili meat.
They ship anywhere in the United States. Your order comes in a reusable insulated container and is kept frozen by dry ice or gel packs.
The Reasons Why You Should Purchase Elk Meat
Elk meat is an exceptionally lean protein, with very little fat. In fact, elk is one of the leanest natural meats available, with less fat than beef, pork, and even chicken.
This makes elk meat an excellent choice for those who are health conscious or watching their weight, as it is a low-calorie, high-protein food. It is also low in cholesterol.
In addition, elk is a good source of several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B12, iron, phosphorus, and zinc [1].
Furthermore, this animal is a sustainable and ethical protein choice, as elk are not raised on factory farms and are generally free to roam and graze naturally.
They get to eat a healthy, natural diet and live stress-free lives.
Since they are not farm-raised, elk are antibiotic and hormone-free and have a lower environmental impact than other types of protein.
They eat natural grasses, flowers, and twigs. Interestingly, they also will consume bones and eggs [2].
Even though elk are not usually certified as USDA organic, you can generally assume that elk meet the same high standards as organic beef or chicken because of how elk are raised.
Unlike beef, elk is not mass-produced. Small, local, family-owned farms are the norm in the elk industry, which means that you can feel good about supporting these hard-working businesses when you purchase their products.
Finally, elk is as tender as beef, with a far milder and more delicate flavor than venison. It is a versatile meat you can cook in any recipe for beef, pork, or lamb.
6 Things To Look For In Elk Meat Providers
When looking for a provider of elk meat, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
1. Sourcing
The animals should be free-range and grass-fed, and the company should not use any steroids, hormones, or antibiotics in their animals.
Natural elk that have been pasture-raised and wild-fed are usually healthier and provide a higher quality of game meat.
2. Processing
You want to ensure that the company takes care in processing their elk meat.
The company should use humane practices when processing the animals and handle the meat properly and carefully to avoid contamination.
3. Selection
The company should be able to provide a variety of cuts of elk. You should be able to find all of the basic cuts of steak, ground elk, and elk roasts. I prefer companies that offer some less common options.
That way, I’m sure that they pay close attention to catering to the tastes of different customers and have an eye for different cooking sentiments.
4. Shipping
The company should be able to package the meat in a way that keeps it well-preserved and ship it to your home.
The shipping should be done via a reliable service, and the meat should arrive at your location, still frozen, within a short time after your order.
Only a few companies offer free shipping, but it is worth keeping an eye out for.
5. Price
The price of elk meat can vary depending on the provider. Since elk are not mass-produced like many cattle are, you can expect to pay a little more than you would for beef at the grocery shop.
However, you should be able to find a company that offers affordable prices. Ideally, the company will offer free shipping to offset the cost.
6. Customer Service
The company should have excellent customer service if you have any questions or concerns about your order.
You should be able to reach the customer relations department via phone or email, and they should be able to answer any questions you have.
"Elk meat is not only tasty, but is lower in fat, cholesterol, and calories than "traditional" red meats. For this reason, the demand for elk meat is increasing among health-conscious consumers."
- North American Elk Breeders Association
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FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Purchase Elk Meat?
It costs between $2.00 to $18.90 to purchase Elk meat. Ground elk costs $2.00 per pound, while elk tenderloin costs $18.90. The price of elk meat can vary depending on the provider.
How Long Does Elk Meat Last?
Elk meat will last in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for six months. It's important to note that you should not refreeze elk meat that has been thawed.
References:
- https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/175302/nutrients
- https://a-z-animals.com/blog/what-do-elk-eat/
Can anyone share their experience with Pearson Ranch’s elk snacks? I’m thinking of trying their jerky.