The Herald-Zeitung

It’s going to be long few months, both for deer and for the people who make their living turning them into venison.

Today marks the start of deer season, and that means big business at meat-processing centers.

After months of preparation, those working at local game centers said they’re ready for the annual onslaught of hunters bringing their prize kills.

“They come in by the boatload,” said Trey Rust of Rust’s Game Place.

The general season for white-tailed deer in Comal County begins today and continues through Jan. 3. The special late general season, where hunters are only allowed to kill antler-less and spike-buck deer, will stretch from Jan. 4 to Jan. 17.

That means the peak season is about to start at processing centers, with untold numbers of deer being delivered to be skinned, de-boned and turned into sausage, cutlets and backstrap.

“How many do we get?” asked Randy Rust, who owns Rust Game Place. “Let’s just say it’s in the thousands.”

And while Schlitterbahn and river outfitters are the most visible seasonal businesses in New Braunfels, meat processors said they also make a healthy portion of their living during the height of deer season.

“This is the prime time for us,” said Mike Schwab, who owns Schwab Sausage House and Barbecue with his wife, Annette. “We probably do half our business with the deer.”

Rust and Mike Schwab both said they’ve hired additional staff to brace for the busy season. They’re also getting ready to work long hours, as six to 10 employees will be cleaning and processing around 1,500 deer between now and February.

Rust said that doesn’t include other game that’s also brought in, everything from axis, elk and mule deer to the occasional buffalo.

“We know from the first day until the end of February, there are going to be a lot of long days,” Trey Rust said.

It can be grueling, but processors said they look forward to it every year.

“You get excited for it,” Randy Rust said. “It’s a lot of work, but I’ve been doing it since 1975, so I kind of enjoy it.”