BUFFALO MEAT PROCESSING:
So that you get exactly what you want, contacting the processor and reserving the day your animal arrives is your responsibility. The processors we use most are:
Crow Creek Meat Processing, 2502 Ridge Rd., Cheyenne, WY, (307) 635-1150,
Grizzly Processing, 1105 Richards St., Douglas, WY 82633, (307) 358-4727
Both processors do excellent, clean work. Grizzly's uses more traditional cutting and packaging, while Crow Creek vacuum packs and completely debones.
Heifers and young bulls make the most tender meat. For more mature bulls, take the best steaks and roasts, and the rest makes great burger.
PROCESSING CHARGES
Completely boned out will cost approximately $1.00 per pound of meat received, plus a $35 to $50 skinning fee. The cost and how much meat you get will depend on how you choose to have it cut . . . and how little waste there is from your shot.
Rough estimates of the amount of meat you might receive from your animal (yours may be larger or smaller, and depending on your shot, there may be more or less wasted meat):
1 1/2 year old heifers: 195 pounds
1 1/2 year old bulls: 230 pounds
2 1/2 year old bulls: 300 pounds
5 1/2 year old bulls: 475 pounds
OTHER FEES:
Hauling your bison to Grizzly processing (only) - $65, or you may haul it yourself to Grizzly's or to Crow Creek Meat.
Capeing - $45 to $65 (depending on size)
Skinning and quartering plus cooling overnight (Grizzly's only) - $50
SHIPPING:
Our processor packages your meat in 70-pound containers (that's 60 lbs. meat with 10 lbs. dry ice). So, for example, a buffalo heifer with 195 lbs. processed meat would equal 3 total shipping containers weighing 70 lbs. each. UPS second-day air is necessary to ensure that your meat arrives well frozen. We do not recommend shipping meat unless you are prepared to pay the high cost; check with your local UPS for current rates.
BUFFALO TAXIDERMY:
For head mounts and tanning in our area:
Kim Lutz at Kim's Art Wild, Box 1678, 30 N. Coyote, Glenrock, WY 82637,
Stan Taylor, Wildlife Creations, Glenrock, WY 82637, 307-436-5360.
Troy Hall, Artistic Impressions, 3571 Rd. 212, Cheyenne, WY 82009, 307-632-0855.
The taxidermists above can send in your hides for robes. If you can flesh, salt and send it yourself, then the best place for robes is Moyle's Tanning, 208-678-3421, info@moytown.com, in Heyburn, Idaho.
Mature bulls are obviously the best for beautiful head mounts or robes, but younger bulls make nice skull or head mounts and small robes also.
