Bizarre Event! What to do?

Sounds like you should at least get your $ back from the deposit, but how do you put a monetary value on meat from a wild animal?

I’d ask for the deposit and the value of farmed venison pound for pound (+20% or so for the work you put into it and the hassle of losing it) of the same weight in the same condition you brought yours in.

This is exactly what business insurance is for and where’d I’d start my negotiating. I’d settle on the equal value of an equivalent farmed deer as a final offer.

It is something for Meat Locker's insurance to handle. They will pay you a lot less than you think they should. If Meat Locker did not have insurance than you get to sue the owner, who likely just lost everything and is now broke. I think your best bet is to just realize that God don't want you eating venison this year. But maybe you get lucky.

Tell them it was a trophy hunt of a lifetime and you flew in from Australia, now you need the entire trip paid for.

Or you could think about what you would be going through if your business just burned to the ground and you were trying to figure out how to rebuild and keep current customers from being former customers.

I would estimate the weight of your meat and then find what other folks charge for venison by the pound and tell them you want reimbursed for the meat by weight by the cut (steaks, backstrap, burger, etc)

Some ideas:
https://www.howmuchisit.org/how-much-does-venison-cost/

https://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/big-game-hunting/whitetail-deer/value-of-a-deer/

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/caution-article-reveals-true-cost-venison/amp/

As you can see it is not just the meat but the cost to get it as well.

Now, if this is a local guy, a neighbor or someone that you care about perhaps just the return of your deposit and some well wishes might suffice. Telling a guy that just took a major hit on his business that is a person you encounter often that you want $1000 might just cause some bad blood for years to come.

Just something to think about...and I feel bad you lost your deer.

Assuming it's a small business, they probably just aren't able to pay for everything by the pound as a settlement. Ask about their insurance if you want to be reimbursed.
If it's someone you knew, get your deposit back and wish them the best.
Heck, go help them clean up. Maybe you'll find out you paid $50 for the processing and got it all smoked for free.

Maybe you could just ask for your deposit refunded, then try to procure a replacement tag and go out and enjoy another hunt? That's what I think I would do. Win/Win.

I would just cut it all is a loss and move on, then if they try and make it right let it be. Even with insurance those people are going through a lot.

OARNGESI said:

I would just cut it all is a loss and move on, then if they try and make it right let it be. Even with insurance those people are going through a lot.

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I totally agree. Around where I hunt these business's dont make a whole lot of money and all employ under employed locals. If I asked for anything from them it would be a $50 credit for processing whenever they open back up, if they do. I use one near where I hunt, he is the only one local, I would want him to open back up.

OARNGESI said:

I would just cut it all is a loss and move on, then if they try and make it right let it be. Even with insurance those people are going through a lot.

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kheeka said:

I totally agree. Around where I hunt these business's dont make a whole lot of money and all employ under employed locals. If I asked for anything from them it would be a $50 credit for processing whenever they open back up, if they do. I use one near where I hunt, he is the only one local, I would want him to open back up.

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What they said. I would be happy to get my 50 bucks back, or given a credit for the future if they re opened .But if I didn't get the money back I would just move on, dudes probably has a lot on his mind now as it is,and I would t want to make his burden greater. If it was a few hundred bucks id be concerned.

If for some reason the guy didn't have insurance, I would just tell him to keep the money and consider it a donation to getting his business back track.

Maybe take this as a sign, and learn how to process your own deer. It's alot of work, but it makes you appreciate what you hunt and eat more.

Sniper66 said:

Certainly I'll ask that my $50 deposit be returned, but what can I expect/ask for in terms of a loss claim on the ruined venison

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....not to mention a ruined deer permit.

FL-NC said:

Sounds like you should at least get your $ back from the deposit, but how do you put a monetary value on meat from a wild animal?

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$/pound, whatever that might be, considering what you wanted done. In other words, if it was just to cut it up in roasts and steaks; versus grinding it up, seasoning it, smoking it and tuning it into sausage, that would something different.

I had a large freezer full of beef, pork and venison quit working a few years ago. My insurance paid the same price for venison as it did beef.
I would expect $50 credit and leave it at that. There will surly be many that complain and want reimbursement, particularly if the locker rents freezer space. Understandable with the cost of meat these days. Asking to be reimbursed for a lost deer? I'd feel like a vulture circling the ashes. BUT, as a resident and land owner in Iowa, I can get a bunch of deer tags every year and it doesn't cost a lot. I might think differently if deer were harder to get.

I think it'll come down to how much insurance and what is determined to be the cause of the fire. If there is anything suspicious with the cause of the fire, don't hold your breath waiting for the money. Biggest creditors will probably be paid first outta the insurance. Check with our homeowners insurance, they may pay you......but then your premiums will probably go up too. My concern would be for the welfare and livelihood of the butcher, not my $50 and the 40-50# of venison.

I would just thank God it wasn't my place that burned, pray for the guy that lost his shop, and go forward from there.

Game animals are "owned" by the state. It is unlawful to buy or sell game animals, therefore the animal has no actual monetary value. If you get your deposit back, that's all you can expect.

I know all the processing guys around here if it was just a deer id let it go and forget it. if it was a 1000 lb steer id then have to get them claim it on their insurance. a 1000 lb steer would be worth over a 1000 buks, that's hard to let slide.

OARNGESI said:

I would just cut it all is a loss and move on, then if they try and make it right let it be. Even with insurance those people are going through a lot.

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This.

Sniper66 said:

It'll be awhile before anything is settled and I plan to shoot another one when I get the chance. For now I'll shoot squirrels!

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A lot of folks think I'm superstitious, and others think I'm overtly spiritual, so what... it's my kharma/soul/afterlife, take your pick...., but I think this is a little "test" for you, soooo... the best thing for you to do is harvest another deer as you wrote, and then...take some of the venison from the next deer, all cut, wrapped, and frozen, and give it to the guy whose business burned down. I can't think of a better way in this situation to help gain good luck/blessing on future hunts.

LD

I don't think I would worry about the venison either. It's up to you, but my days of having to live on venison just so I could eat are over so I would want my $50.00 deposit back and leave it alone. Like others have said, the guy who just had his business and livelihood burn down has a much bigger problem than you have.
I still eat venison and if I had prime venison from an early, clean kill, lost like that, I'd be miffed to but it's not the end of the world.
You could learn how to cut one up yourself.

Maybe you can scrounge some jerky out of the ruins.

Seriously, if he is insured, then see what they will give you. If he isn't, then he is in a whole lot bigger hurt than you are, and could probably use a good neighbor to write off the debt in order to help him get back on his feet.

Depending on how well you know them, get your $50 back, and put your name on the list for cleanup and dumpster day, as well as helping pour new footings for the inevitable new building. If the are a small family business, they are probable worse off than anyone you know...and Christmas is coming.

Best thing to do at this point is just move on. Dude lost a lot, and likely lost record of who he had taken deposits from. Sucks, but that's life. Put yourself in his situation and try to imagine what the most aggravating thing would be, don't do that!!! I bet he will be getting cussed, threatened, and other unpleasantness by folks solely concerned about themselves, all the while his livelihood is gone. If you do anything, offer support. If support isn't going to be offered, move on.