Broken Arrow Ranch

Broken Arrow Ranch

Broken Arrow Ranch is an artisanal producer of high quality free-range venison, antelope, and wild boar meat. We field harvest only truly wild animals by partnering with ranchers in Central and South Texas as an integral part of their population management programs. This practice provides a humane life and harvest for the animals, maintains a sustainable animal population for the rancher, and produces wild game meats of legendary quality.

We are a family-owned and operated business now in its 2nd generation. Since 1983 we have been supplying the highest quality venison and wild game meats to America’s finest restaurants. Many of the same products we provide to these discriminating chefs are now available for online purchase and preparation at home.

Broken Arrow Ranch is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Clear flowing streams, waterfalls, spectacular bluffs and vistas provide pleasure to the people who live here and a natural home to the animals that live on the land.

Most of the ranch land in this area is not suited to cultivation, but it provides an abundance of natural herbs, browse, nourishing native grasses, and climatic conditions that are ideally suited to a wide variety of exotic (non-native) species of deer and antelope.

Introduced to central Texas over 80 years ago, these exotic animals have multiplied and flourished to provide a new agricultural resource for America. We strongly support sustainable agriculture methods, and our harvesting is carefully managed to insure the continuing health of these animals without depleting the natural forage.

 

Broken Arrow Ranch Field-Harvested Wild Game Meat is Paleo Approved.

 

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Our Story

“Mike Hughes used to carry meat around in a briefcase and walk the streets of NYC and Chicago, to get chefs to taste his meat. In some places, they still talk about it. These chefs have been buying meat from us for over 30 years now.”

The concept of field harvesting and processing wild venison was pioneered by Chris’s father , Mike hughes, back in 1983, and after developing the technology and helping to improve the legislation that made it feasible, Broken Arrow Ranch is still the industry-leader in pure wild meat to your table.

The operation has grown over the years, with more mobile meat processing units being sent to harvest on nearly 40 unique ranches every year. The team works with wildlife ecologists, ranch owners and managers to identify over-populated herds on private land all across the state of Texas, seeking opportunities to use selective harvesting to improve the health of the herd and land.

We ship thousands of orders all over the United States. Originally, we worked only as a wholesaler for Chefs and restaurants, but in 2007 we began shipping much smaller orders to individuals. With the growing number of food sensitivities and extreme allergies, we realized that we became a resource for many people who could only eat wild game because of allergies to synthetic hormones, bulk livestock feed and other human additives. Our work sustains the lives of many people whose only other option would be to transition to a strictly vegetarian diet.

Now, Broken Arrow Ranch’s work has expanded beyond just the requirements of taste, but has deepened to a focus on purity. Pure food, is the best food. It tastes the best, makes our bodies feel the best, and ultimately, results in healthier natural ecosystems.

Our Vision: Pure To Table

We believe Purity is an even higher standard than just quality. Pure is honest, natural, and genuine. When chefs and gourmets seek the purest foods in the world they are often foraged from the wild. Think bluefin tuna and white truffles. The real thing isn’t cultivated, it must be found and harvested. When purity matters one must go beyond merely high quality. For many, this high standard is the minimum standard for their wellbeing.

At Broken Arrow Ranch our focus on quality is built around purity.

Our Mission: Protect the Pure

Every process is meant to protect the purity. Our premium meat is field-harvested from the wild. It’s shipped efficiently right to your door. Every rancher is fairly paid for every pound of meat we harvest and every employee is cared for like family. For us, a pure customer experience means keeping you satisfied through the last bite. We strive to serve every person and every animal well in all we do.

“We are quality obsessive. We give authority to every employee to make a decision for quality.”
—Chris Hughes, Owner

Our Process

  1. We field-harvest animals with a mobile unit from overpopulated ranches, process them onsite under government inspection, pay the rancher for every pound and bring the meat back to our butchers.
  2. The meat rests during a special double-aging process that helps tenderize it and enhance flavors.
  3. Orders are filled and shipped overnight to you, anywhere in the USA.
  4. Everything is delivered in an insulated shipping cooler right to your door. It can be used immediately or kept frozen for up to 1 year.
  5. Enjoy your wild game meat using one of our many recipes or with one of your own.

That’s purely wild meat to your table.

Wild Boar

Wild Venison

Bandera Quail

Wild Game Sausages

Please contact us by phone, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm (CST)

(800) 962-4263
Broken Arrow Ranch
3296 Junction Highway • Ingram, TX 78025

Or contact us via email through out contact page.

If you are inquiring about wild game for your restaurant menu, please include your title and the name of your establishment on the inquiry.

Venison Bone Broth

Venison Steaks

Antelope Medallions with Mustard and Shallot Sauce

Emeril´s Wild Boar Chops and Sausages with Peppers and Onions

What is the “Broken Arrow Ranch”?

Answer: We are a working ranch, based in the Texas Hill Country, where we harvest and process wild game meat, such as venison, antelope, and wild boar, under full inspection by the Texas Department of Health. We are not a “store front” purveyor who only warehouses meat from other sources or suppliers.

What is different about Broken Arrow Ranch game meats?

Answer: Harvesting and processing our own meat allows us to maintain the high quality of the products we sell. The products we provide are available only by ordering directly from us. Obviously, there are other sources of venison and wild game meats, but there are distinct and important differences. About 85% of the venison sold in America is raised on deer farms in New Zealand. All of the deer and antelope we harvest live as free-range animals wild on large open ranches. They subsist on a widely varying diet that gives the meat a rich and complex flavor. Another important difference is the unique way in which our deer and antelope are harvested.

How should I cook my antelope, venison or wild boar meat?

Answer: Depending on the cut of meat you are preparing, wild game meat should be cooked in one of two ways: a little or a lot. Tender cuts (such as loins and filets) should not be cooked past medium rare. If done so the meat will become tough and dry. Working cuts (such as those from the shoulder or leg) should be cooked at low temperature for several hours. This process breaks up the natural connective tissue of the muscle creating extremely tender and flavorful dishes. As a rule of thumb, you can substitute Broken Arrow Ranch venison in almost any of your favorite beef, lamb, or pork recipes. For more detailed directions check out our recipes and tips we have compiled from years of cooking here on the ranch and from our customers.  Our article on How to Cook Venison is also helpful.

Is it legal to sell meat from wild animals?

Answer: Many people falsely believe that it is illegal to sell meat from wild (not farmed) animals.  The correct assertion is that it is illegal to sell meat from any animal that has not passed inspection by a government meat inspector.  However, the only way to harvest a wild animal in the field so that it can pass inspection is to take a government inspector out of the plant and into the field with you.  Well, that's exactly what we do.  More information can be found in our articles about our field harvest technique and unique wild game meat inspection requirements.

Are Broken Arrow Ranch's products "organic"?

Answer: “Organic” is a term that is often confused and misused. A general designation for “organic” products is those that are grown naturally, as opposed to products grown synthetically or with enhancements. The South Texas Antelope and Axis Deer harvested by Broken Arrow Ranch range freely on open land that is not treated with herbicides or pesticides. They choose the food they eat from many species of grasses, bushes, herbs, trees, berries and nuts. The animals grow at a natural rate, without artificial stimulation. We do not specifically label our wild game meat as “organic” but it is indeed an all-natural product.

How are the deer and antelope harvested?

Answer: Our process is unique in the world - the only fully inspected year-round harvesting of truly free-range wild game. Avoiding stress during slaughter is a major factor in controlling meat quality. Our field harvesting technique is to quietly search the ranch for animals ready for harvesting and killing the animals by a single long-range head shot from a suppressed rifle. The free-range deer and antelope we harvest are never under any stress and the resulting meat quality is the highest possible. The meat is then processed on the ranch in our proprietary mobile processing facility under full inspection.

Are your harvesting techniques humane?

Answer: We take the utmost care to ensure that all our animals are harvested in a humane and respectful manner with no stress to the animal. For one thing, it’s the right thing to do. Additionally, harvesting stress-free animals results in meat of superior quality. We strongly support sustainable agriculture efforts, and many of the ranches we work with utilize us as an integral part of their game management plan. The animals we harvest are not native to the United States and, thus, have no natural predators. Were it not for our services many deer and antelope would begin to starve due to overpopulation.

What am I getting when I order venison from Broken Arrow Ranch?

Answer: Venison is a general term used to describe the meat of a deer or antelope. Here on the ranch we make a distinction between the two so our customers know exactly what they are getting. Many products are labeled with the specific animal species, such as Axis deer or South Texas Antelope (also called nilgai antelope). There are subtle and interesting differences in flavor between the two, but both make outstanding dishes. Our products labeled as “venison” may contain a mixture of deer and antelope meat.

Are there any restaurants near me that serve Broken Arrow Ranch products?

Answer: Broken Arrow Ranch products are served in hundreds of fine dining establishments nationwide. If you live near a major metropolitan market, then chances are that someone near you is using Broken Arrow Ranch products. Some offer it periodically as a "Chef's Special" for a limited time, but others keep Broken Arrow Ranch products on their menu full time. If you see venison, antelope or wild boar offered and want to be sure you're getting the best, ask your waiter if they are serving Broken Arrow Ranch products. Click here for a list of recent restaurant customers.

How do Broken Arrow Ranch products compare in price?

Answer: We cannot produce the very highest quality at the lowest cost. The steps we take to provide you with the highest quality wild game meat do add cost to our products. We think the extra effort is worth it, though, and many fine dining chefs agree.

What species of deer and antelope meat do you offer?

Answer: For our gourmet customers we offer high quality products from the following animals: Axis Deer – Axis venison is considered by many to be the finest venison in the world. A native of India, the Axis deer was introduced to ranches in the Texas Hill Country over 50 years ago. The meat is finely textured and tender. More information about Axis Deer can be found here. South Texas Antelope – Our best selling game meat. These animals are native to the Himalayan foothills of India and Nepal and are traditionally called “nilgai” antelope, translated as “blue bull.” The meat has a mild flavor with a good texture – much like veal. It is extremely low in fat, averaging less than 1% for most cuts. More information about the South Texas Antelope can be found here. Wild Boar – Wild boar have been used as a source of food on every continent except Antarctica. We employ the services of several trappers who catch the boar in trap boxes and bring them live for slaughter under USDA inspection. These wild boar produce the hormone androstenone that gives the meat a unique flavor, distinct from ordinary pork. More information about wild boar can be found at our website

Can I book a private hunt on the Broken Arrow Ranch?

Answer: Sorry, but we do not allow private, recreational hunts on our ranch. A good source to find hunting ranches is the Exotic Wildlife Association.

Is there a minimum order quantity?

Answer: Yes, any order must include at least $50 of product. This is to ensure that the products ordered can be shipped safely to our customers. All website orders are shipped overnight in insulated coolers, and the product mix/quantity achieved with a $50 order is appropriate for safe transport in our smallest cooler. This minimum order level is a safeguard that prevents us from shipping products in a mostly "empty" cooler where quick thawing may occur.

Where do you get your deer and antelope?

Answer: We work with many ranches throughout Texas to bring you the finest free-range venison and antelope meat available. None of the deer and antelope we harvest are penned or farmed. Rather, they are truly wild game roaming the open ranges available down here in Texas.

Do all of the deer and antelope harvested come from the Broken Arrow Ranch?

Answer: No. We harvest deer from the Broken Arrow Ranch several times a year, but most of the animals are harvested on other area ranches. Ranchers use our harvests to maintain a naturally sustainable population on their property. If the population was not managed then overgrazing, starvation, and disease would occur. An additional incentive for the ranchers is that we pay them for the animals we harvest. A true win-win all around.

Why do you field harvest the deer and antelope?

Answer: Harvesting truly wild deer and antelope is always a challenge. If they were trapped and transported live to a traditional slaughter plant the animals would be put under a tremendous amount of stress and the meat quality would suffer. So instead of taking the animals to the plant we take the plant to the animals. We pioneered the mobile processing concept in 1983 as a way to harvest animals in a stress-free manner while still satisfying all of the necessary food safety and government inspection regulations.

Will my meat be delivered fresh or frozen?

Answer: Typically, all of our meat is delivered frozen. Everything we do is intended to provide you with meat of the highest quality possible, including why and how we freeze it. We can provide some of our meat fresh, but that is a custom order not available through the website and requires a bit of lead time.

Why do you freeze the meat?

Answer: After field harvesting the animals we age the meat on the bone for 21-28 days. This aging process creates a more tender and flavorful meat by allowing natural enzymes in the muscles to break down connective tissue and allowing muscle fibers to "relax." (Just like aged beef sold at high-end steakhouses.) Once the meat is fully aged we cut it, package it, and flash-freeze it. So, by delivering frozen meat we are able to ensure that you are getting meat that is at the absolute peak of its quality. An important distinction here is that our meat is FULLY AGED BEFORE FREEZING. The meat will not get any better than it is at the moment it is frozen and freezing it naturally preserves that perfection for you to enjoy. This technique is time consuming and expensive, but it produces a superior product - and to our knowledge we are the only producer in the world who does it this way. Fresh does not necessarily equal better in this case.

How do you freeze the meat and doesn't freezing affect the quality?

Answer: Like many things, there is a right way to freeze meat and a wrong way. You can be certain that we didn't put so much effort to produce high quality meat just to "ruin" it during the freezing process. The difference between meat that is frozen slowly (wrong way) and meat that is frozen quickly (right way, our way) happens at the molecular level. When meat is frozen slowly the water molecules inside expand and destroy cellular walls. This results in poor texture and significant purge (loss of moisture) when thawed. However, when meat is quickly frozen the water molecules do not have time to expand and there is little to no cellular destruction. This meat maintains a quality and texture that is almost indistinguishable from fresh meat. 

How can I order your wild game meat?

Answer: We have many free-range, high quality wild game meat products available on our website. If you have any questions or experience any problems please call us at (830) 367-5875 or use the "contact us" form.

How will my order be shipped?

Answer: All consumer orders are shipped in a reusable insulated container, chilled by gel packs and delivered to your door. We use UPS overnight service for shipping.  Standard overnight service will have your product delivered by 4:30 PM the next business day after shipping. Our Shipping Information section provides additional details.

How long can I store my wild game meat?

Answer: Venison and antelope in packages with tight seals can be stored in your freezer for up to 1 year. Wild boar and quail can be stored in your freezer for up to 6 months. Once thawed the meat should be cooked or refrozen within 5 days. Meat stored in your freezer for longer than the recommended time is still safe to eat but the quality (texture, flavor, etc.) may have diminished.

How should I thaw my meat and how long will it take?

Answer: Refrigerator Method (Best) - Thawing meat in the refrigerator is the slowest but safest method and will result in the least amount of moisture loss in comparison to the other methods. The temperature of the refrigerator should be maintained at 35°F to 40°F to discourage growth of harmful organisms as the meat thaws. Leave the meat wrapped and placed on a platter or a tray to catch any drippings. Allow 4-5 hours per pound of meat to fully thaw. After thawing in the refrigerator the meat can be refrigerated safely for 3 to 5 days. If you decide not to cook the meat within this time, the meat can be refrozen. Remember however, that each time the meat is frozen it loses a little of its flavor and texture quality. Do not refreeze meat that has been thawed using the cold water or microwave methods. Cold Water Method (Quickest) - Thawing meat in cold water is a faster method than thawing in the refrigerator and it is safe as long as the proper precautions are taken. However, there may be a slight loss of moisture during the faster thawing process that can result in meat that is more dry to the taste. Fill the sink with enough cold tap water to cover the cut of meat, keep the meat in its vacuum packaging and put it into the cold water. Be sure that the meat is sealed tightly so that it is not exposed to the water. Meat exposed to the water will result in flavor and color loss, and will have a greater chance of bacterial growth. The water must be replaced with fresh cold water every 30 minutes. Do not use warm or hot water because it will encourage the growth of bacteria and even more moisture loss. Allow 30 minutes to 1 hour for smaller cuts and up to 3 hours for larger cuts/roasts.

Wild Game Meat

Aging of Wild Game Meats

"Ranched" vs. "Farmed" Venison

South Texas Antelope (Nilgai)

Nutritional Information for Venison

Commercial Exotic Deer & Antelope Harvesting

Humane Field Harvest For High Quality Venison

Wild Game Meat Inspection Some Surprising Requirements!

Product List For Restaurant Customers

Call 800-962-4263 or Contact Us For Pricing & Information

Broken Arrow Ranch is dedicated to providing wild game meats of the highest quality. The meat comes from truly wild, free-ranging animals that are field-harvested in a humane and stress-free manner. Then we custom age the meat on the bone to maximize flavor and tenderness. Let us help find the right cut for you and your patrons.

Beware of imitators! To ensure quality, Broken Arrow Ranch wild game meats are only available shipped directly from us to you. It is not available from distributors or any other source.

The list here shows the standard cuts we produce. Due to variability in the species and number of animals we harvest not all cuts may be available. Your sales rep will work with you to find the right cut to fit your needs.

About Us : 

Established in 2010, The Paleo Foundation was first organized for the purpose of improving the tolerability of the paleo diet, and to help adherents easily identify products that met its basic tenets.  Since then, thousands of products have been certified through the Certified Paleo, Keto Certified, and lab -tested Grain-Free Gluten-Free certification programs.

 


Disclosures:

100% of  Paleo Foundation revenue is generated through certifications.  We do not accept donations, corporate sponsorships, or financially benefit from the sales of any certified products, product giveaways, or partnerships with industry contacts or retailers for the purpose of maintaining the integrity of an impartial certification standard. 


Certified Paleo logo Certified Paleo:

Each certification program has a different set of standards.  Certified Paleo is the Paleo Foundation’s first, most popular, and highest level of certification for Paleo-compliant products.  Certified Paleo Products are products that contain Paleo ingredients, but may have some 21st-century processing or packaging methods allowing for shelf stability.

 


Grain Free Gluten Free Certified LogoGrain-Free Gluten-Free: 

Grain Free Gluten Free Certified products are gluten-free and do not contain any grains of gliadin competitive residues.  All Grain-Free Gluten-Free products have undergone two rounds of audits, including lab tests, and a final review to become approved for the Grain-free Gluten-free Certified Program. 

 


 

Keto Certified LogoKeto Certified: 

The ketogenic diet is a restrictive, demanding diet that can be difficult to maintain, and tolerability of the ketogenic diet is the single most important factor limiting individual acceptance for initiation.  Therefore, improving the tolerability of the ketogenic diet is crucial to preventing diet discontinuation, warranting further investigation into methods for improving palatability, improving the availability and convenience of foods that are compliant with the ketogenic diet, as well as addressing cultural and social acceptance.

The Keto Diet product market may be in a unique position to improve tolerability, especially in social and cultural environments that typically feature carbohydrate-rich “special occasion” types of foods. In 2016, the Paleo Foundation launched the world's first Keto Certified program for products with standards that were developed for adherence to a classical ketogenic diet.