Deer season is a way of life for hunters and meat processors alike
WINFIELD TWP — As hunters begin to catch their game in the week of rifle hunting season, meat processors like McKruit Meat Packing are experiencing a parallel spike in business that tends to stay through mid-December.
One such processor, McKruit Meat Packing, saw over 150 deer dropped off just by noon on Sunday, Nov. 30 — the second day of the season. For a fee, hunters are able to drop off a deer, have it processed and later pick up the meat.
Owner Dan McKruit said the number of incoming deer fluctuates throughout the relevant hunting season, but peaks during rifle season. But factors such as the day of the week and weather make it nearly impossible to predict the amount of deer that will get dropped off on a given day.
“Throughout the week, you’ll get about 20 a day, but it varies because if it’s a rainy day, no one hunts,” McCruit said. “If it’s a real nice day, everyone hunts — and there’s a lot less hunters nowadays, too.”
Outside of the hunting season, the business still sees the occasional deer through farmers with agricultural protection exceptions, plus the business processes plenty of beef, pork and “anything without feathers,” McKruit said.
He said that even though the career takes a toll on the body, even 50 years in, he still adores the work. He also appreciates his regulars, many of which he’s watched grow up or grow old over the decades.
“I am cutting deer now for great-grandsons of people that I cut deer for when I started,” he said. “First, they’ll tag along because they’re not old enough to hunt. The next thing you know, I’m cutting deer for them, and then their sons are hunting.”
With those years of experience at cutting meat, McKruit has become a well-known and trusted place for hundreds of hunters throughout the area. When hunters walked into McKruit’s business to order their cuts, they all seemed to know Dan by name and greeted him with friendly “hellos.”
One hunter, Dan Nugent, dropped off three deer for himself and his family Sunday afternoon. He said he lives in Allison Park and hunts in Clarion County, but will go out of his way to have any deer processed by McKruit.
“They’re real clean here. You’re never gonna find a hair in your meat or anything like that. I’ve never had any problems,” Nugent said.
He said he’s been coming to McKruit for 25 or 30 years now, and has no plans to go anywhere else.
McKruit Meat Packing also participates in Hunters Sharing the Harvest, a statewide program that allows hunters to donate venison to food banks. During the 2024-25 hunting season, the program received 283,789 pounds of venison harvested from 7,855 deer, providing about 1.1 million servings.
In the first two days of rifle season, McKruit said he had already received about a dozen donated deer, and he only expects that number to grow. While the business does not receive the same money from a donated deer, McKruit said he is glad to be a part of it.
“We entered that program the year it started, and we’ve stayed in it the whole time. We feel it’s good for the community. The process is easy, we just ground it like hamburger, bag it up, and off it goes,” he said.
He said his 50th year in the industry feels like a milestone accomplishment. He doesn’t know how much longer he’ll be doing the job himself, but he said he feels the future of McKruit Meat Packing is secure through his employees.
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John Georgic cuts meat at McKruit Meat Packing on Sunday, Nov. 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Steve Bergbigler begins processing a deer at McKruit Meat Packing on Sunday, Nov. 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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A list detailing the requested styles of meat the hunter wants their deer processed into hangs in the kitchen at McKruit Meat Packing on Sunday, Nov. 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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A sign welcomes customers into McKruit Meat Packing on Sunday, Nov. 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Cathy Georgic cuts venison at McKruit Meat Packing on Sunday, Nov. 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Jim Osche, left, cuts venison at McKruit Meat Packing on Sunday, Nov. 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
