Continuous News

Hunting gives a boost to local businesses

Posted: Oct 26, 2012 5:48 PM by Victoria Fregoso-Q2 News
Updated: Oct 26, 2012 5:50 PM

Workers at the 4th Avenue Meat Market in Billings have their hand full...And they expect it to be this way over the next few months.

"End of October, until Christmas time. We more than double this time of year, over normal," said Kevin Harrell, co-owner of the 4th Avenue Meat Market.

It's all thanks to hunting season. Since the beginning of the general hunting season in Montana, this meat market is one of many businesses seeing a direct impact.

Business picks up so much, extra staff members are hired to chop, slice and pack this endless production line of game meats.

"Try to get our employees lined up ahead of time as well as we can. We've got some return employees, which makes it kind of nice and then we have some new ones."

Meat markets aren't the only businesses seeing a boost this hunting season. Hunters that want to preserve the hunt, are making their way to taxidermy shops.

"Hunting season, it's a zoo," said Don Keever of Anglers and Antlers Taxidermy. "It's really cool, you get to see so much. An influx of game, antelope, deer, elk, bears, you name it."

At Anglers and Antlers Taxidermy, a majority of income is based on the Montana hunting season. Just like the meat markets, this award winning taxidermist knows work will go on non-stop from now until mid-December.

"As well prepared as you are, it still some times catches you off guard, you know, when you've got a whole trailer full of animals. The back shop, the floor was just covered last Monday, you couldn't even walk on there."

Both businesses say they are seeing more elk come through their doors his year than any other animal.