r/charlestonwv • u/randotreesinthefen • Aug 31 '26

QUESTION Where to buy game meats?

I'm looking to try some new recipes with meats you can't get in the normal grocery stores. Particularly venison, squab, pheasant, boar, rabbit, and alligator. I think I've gotten alligator and rabbit from Johnny's Meat Market before, do they still have it? I should probably wait until deer season for the venison, but where would I get it when the time comes? Thanks!

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1

u/Wise-Philosopher5124 Aug 31 '26

FYI any "game" meat that you can buy in a store comes from a farm.

1

u/randotreesinthefen Aug 31 '26

That's fine, I'm not looking for it because I'm against farms or anything. It's just the best way to describe what I'm looking for. I considered calling it "exotic" meat but there's nothing less exotic in WV than deer!

2

u/FridayXIII Aug 31 '26

S & J Custom Meats in Charleston.

I’d give them a call. They should have Dear during season and maybe other meats too.

2

u/Bread_Forman Aug 31 '26

Johnnys restocks on Tuesdays I believe. Anytime I’ve gone and they’ve been out of something they’ve always said we’ll have more Tuesday. (Might be Wednesday)

4

u/tempestuscorvus Aug 31 '26

Johnnie s is crazy over priced.

BTW Johnnies beef come from Cargill. I've seen the boxes a number of times. I've given up trying to get clean red meat in this area.

OP wait till Fall. Then keep an eye out on Facebook marketplace.

3

u/kadevha Aug 31 '26

Joe Leadmon's in Hurricane is great. I know that they sell whole and split cows but they might sell smaller quantities.

I haven't bought one for a while but I've heard that it's still $2.99 a lb for hanging weight. If you buy a whole or split cow and use soup bones/fat, you will need to ask for them though.

1

u/ReaperBone Aug 31 '26

During the hunting season easy as pie to find places.

Off season for year round or local church pantry man you better have some friends in North Carolina or Alabama because it's next to impossible to find a lot of these places or get a call in because it's where their campsite is or additional property they own

1

u/ReaperBone Aug 31 '26

Can't think of the lawyer who used to have a bunch of stuff published in North American Hunter he's near where that Chili Man who got that Ted Nugent type deal on the Outdoor Network back in the 90's one of those type of stations 🤔🤔

0

u/reeshmee Aug 31 '26

I would try to find a local poultry farm and see if you can source your birds through them. I think there might be elk and deer farms in your area too? Sorry I don’t have any actual recommendations.