For those who handle deer and other wild game products, deer season can be the busiest time of the year. For example, Cloud’s Meats, Carthage, Mo., must handle not only the increase in regular business by adding deer, but also the increase in holiday hams, turkeys and special orders during the same time period.
The week-and-a-half gun season in November for hunters in Cloud’s area generates on average 1,000 carcasses for the processor to handle, says Andy Cloud, plant manager. Specialty hunting seasons, including archery and youth hunts, run from mid-September to mid-January and also adds to the volume. These hunting seasons amount to Cloud’s serving about 2,500 deer customers in total during the fall and winter months.