LENOXVILLE, Pa. — We're just days into deer season, and many hunters have already found success filling their tags. The next step for many of those hunters is a call to a butcher to have the deer processed.
Redneck Taxidermy and Smoke Daddy Butcher Shop in Lenoxville is one of those places.
Shawn Sparks drove down from Thompson to drop off his son's buck to be processed and mounted.
"I normally butcher the meat myself, but based on time and everything I have going on with my work schedule, I was looking to have it cut up, so I called down here," Sparks said.
Owner William Jones has run his business in Susquehanna County for 25 years and says this time of year can be a bit overwhelming because of the size of his shop. But he takes pride in what he does.
"We're small, so we do one deer, and when it's completely done, we bring in the next deer and then the next deer. I started this by butchering for me and my friends, and I kept the same tradition going where it's one deer," said Jones.
Jones says he's seen an increase in his customers because there are fewer butchers doing deer processing.
"It's not the most pleasant thing to do. It's cold, it's tiring, you're working in the cold all day. It's only a short season, so it's not a year-round job, and it's hard to get people who care that are going to do a good job," Jones said.
Jones believes there are fewer hunters than in years past as people lose interest or can't physically do it anymore due to age. The same goes for those who process the meat, along with the rising costs of doing it.
"I try to keep my prices as low as I can, but if I'm going to do it for nothing, I might as well not do it. You've got to charge enough to do things, and if you're doing things right, it costs a little more money to do things right."
Jones says the best part is seeing customers return next season.