By the Associated Press
Deer hunters across Kansas may have trouble finding a local butcher to process their deer this fall because many of them are booked up for weeks or even months.
The situation is a byproduct of the coronavirus pandemic. More ranchers turned to small and medium-sized meat processors after the virus forced many major meatpacking plants to shut down temporarily or reduce production in the spring and backlogs developed in the system. So this fall, Burkhart Meats is unable to process deer at its shop in Kinsley for the first time in 50 years.
Smoky River Meats in Salina is also turning away deer hunters.
The archery and muzzleloader seasons for deer are already underway. The regular firearm season starts in December and again in January.
