Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company

Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company is a 75-year-old game-meat retailer at 1325 South Highway 89 (in the Smith's Grocery Store complex) selling buffalo (bison), elk, wild boar, and a range of hand-cut steaks, fresh-ground burgers, sausages, and jerky. The right fit is travelers wanting Wyoming game meat to take home, locals stocking the freezer with a non-feedlot protein source, and gift shoppers wanting a regional food gift that ships. The wrong fit is anyone shopping for standard supermarket beef and chicken; this is a specialty meat shop, not a full grocery counter.

Retail Options & Community Engagement

A specialty butcher counter and storefront. Buffalo is the headliner: steaks, ground bison, sausages, jerky. Elk and wild boar fill the next tier of the case. Combo packs and gift boxes assemble samplers for first-time tasters or out-of-town gift shipping. Online ordering ships nationwide. Staff are knowledgeable on cuts and cooking; bison cooks shorter and hotter than beef, and the counter coaches first-time cooks through it. In-store seasonal hours; online available 24/7.

Why people buy here

Three reasons. First, the source. Game meats here are positioned as ranched, not feedlot, with a leaner and protein-richer profile than equivalent beef cuts. For health-conscious cooks or anyone curious about regional meat, this is the easy entry. Second, the cooking guidance. Most travelers haven't cooked bison before; counter staff actually teach the right approach (medium-rare cap, fast hot sear, careful with the well-done) which prevents the most common bison disappointment. Third, the gift angle. A bison sampler is a regional Wyoming gift that ships well and survives the freight handoff better than most regional products.

How to plan a visit

For travelers, time the stop on a return drive (heading toward the airport, or south of town) so you can transport meat in a cooler without long detours. The shop will pack frozen orders for transit. For shippers, the website covers nationwide ground; budget extra during peak holiday weeks (Christmas, Father's Day, Thanksgiving). For first-time bison cookers, ask the counter about steak cuts versus burger versus jerky as the easiest entry point; ground bison burgers cook nearly the same way as beef and remove most of the learning curve.

Tradeoffs to know

Two honest tradeoffs. First, game meats run pricier than supermarket beef; budget around the differential. Second, transport logistics matter; if you're flying out, plan for cooler space and the security-line implications of frozen meat in checked bags, or have orders shipped instead.

Before you go

For a first bison taste, start with ground bison burgers, not a steak. The fat profile and cooking window are more familiar territory and the eating experience is closer to what most cooks expect. Save steaks for after you have one ground-bison meal under your belt; the steak technique requires a hot, fast cook and an accepting attitude toward medium-rare. For gift orders, the Bison Trio sampler is the right call when you don't know the recipient's preferences.

The verdict

For Wyoming buffalo, elk, and game meats with cooking guidance and reliable nationwide shipping, Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company is the established call. Plan transport before you buy, ask the counter for cooking notes, and consider the gift boxes for shipped orders.

FAQ

Do they ship nationwide?

Yes. Online ordering with nationwide ground shipping.

What's the difference between bison and beef?

Leaner and protein-denser. Cooks hotter and faster; usually best at medium-rare.

Do they sell elk and wild boar too?

Yes. Plus sausages, jerky, and combo packs.

Where are they?

1325 South Highway 89, in the Smith's Grocery Store complex.