Frequently Asked Questions

A: We sell our bison meat in shares due to our on-site processing facility and custom exemption, which require us to pre-sell animal shares or whole animal units. This method aligns with our commitment to being a true farm-to-table operation, ensuring that our customers receive the freshest, ethically raised bison meat directly from us. By avoiding middlemen, outside suppliers, and processors, we maintain the highest quality standards and transparency in our operations, providing you with naturally delicious, humanely treated, nutritionally rich bison meat.

A: Preordering from Bluestem Bison Ranch is essential because it is the only legal method by which we can sell our meat. By preordering, you secure a share of a bison, ensuring that the meat you receive has been produced, handled, and processed to the highest standard exclusively by our team. This system guarantees that our bison are ethically raised, humanely treated, and nutritionally rich, aligning with our commitment to providing naturally delicious bison meat. Preordering also helps us meticulously plan, manage, and maintain our ranching practices, ensuring sustainability and the utmost care for our animals.

A: Bluestem Bison Ranch stands out from other meat companies by being a true farm-to-table operation. Our business is built on exclusivity and meticulous care; the bison and the land they roam are privately owned and managed by our team from birth through to humane field harvest. Unlike many other online bison meat sellers, we oversee every part of the process. As one of the only ranches in the country with a vertically integrated supply chain, we privately process in our on-ranch facility and personally deliver to our customers. This ensures that the bison meat you receive is ethically raised, humanely treated, and of the highest nutritional quality, offering a unique and trustworthy meat-buying experience directly from the source.

A: We prioritize the natural lifecycle and well-being of our bison, which means we do not have meat available all year round. We manage our herd in direct synchrony with nature, selectively field harvesting the number of animals based on the availability of natural resources on the ranch. The humane field harvest generally takes place toward the end of summer after the bison have had optimal grazing on fresh green grasses. This approach ensures that our bison are raised in an environment that reflects their natural grazing patterns, resulting in ethically raised, naturally delicious, and nutritionally rich bison meat. By aligning our practices with nature, we offer meat that is not only superior in quality but also produced with the utmost respect for the animals and the environment.

A: We prioritize delivering the freshest and highest quality bison meat directly to your door. We achieve this by carefully packaging our products and working with reliable delivery couriers across the country. Our commitment to outstanding customer service means that each order is handled with meticulous care.

A: At Bluestem Bison Ranch, we prioritize ensuring that our bison meat arrives fresh, frozen, and safe directly to your door. Given that our meat is non-replaceable and cannot be exchanged, we prefer delivery over other methods. This preference stems from the fact that shipping is never guaranteed, which could compromise the quality and safety of our highly valued product. By opting for delivery, we can better control the conditions under which the meat is transported, preserving its premium quality and making sure it reaches you in the best possible state. This commitment to quality is a cornerstone of Bluestem Bison Ranch's ethos, focused on providing naturally delicious, ethically raised, and nutritionally rich bison meat directly from the source to our discerning customers.

A: At Bluestem Bison Ranch, our premium meat products are meticulously vacuum-sealed and frozen using top-quality 4-milliter pouches. Burger comes frozen in convenient 1-pound individual meat bags, making it easy to use just the right amount for your meal preparation. This packaging method is essential for maintaining the meat’s freshness and flavor, ensuring that you receive the highest quality product available on the market. Meat can be conveniently stored in your deep freezer for up to two years without compromising its quality.

A: Yes, we offer subscriptions in the form of animal shares. We harvest once a year, store excess meat, and can deliver it quarterly or semiannually.

A: By ordering a whole bison or a share of a bison, you automatically become a shareholder in Bluestem Bison Ranch. This means the animal you fully own with an entire share purchase, or partially own with a smaller share purchase, grazes freely on our ranch until it is harvested at the optimal time. Your order not only assures you of nutrient-rich, ethically raised bison meat but also directly supports our commitment to regenerative agriculture, ethical farming, and local ranching. When you become a shareholder, you're contributing to a transparent, farm-to-table experience that promotes sustainability and food security.

A: The amount of freezer space you'll need depends on the size of the bison share you purchase. To keep your naturally delicious, ethically raised bison meat at its best, we suggest using a chest freezer. It’s great for efficient storage and ensures your bison meat stays fresh and flavorful. Here’s a helpful storage guide: SAMPLER - 1/8 Share - This share is our smallest bundle of steaks, roasts, and ground. An eighth share fits into a freezer with 2-3 cubic feet. This space could be the empty freezer compartment of a standard refrigerator or a mini chest freezer as seen below. Use our link below to purchase a 3.5 cu. ft. Cowsar freezer! BEST SELLER - 1/4 Share - Our most desired share! A quarter share typically fits nicely into 4-5 cubic feet of freezer space. This share offers a great mix of cuts including steaks, roasts, ground bison, and other delicious pieces. Use our link below to purchase a 5 cu. ft. Costway freezer! BETTER VALUE - 1/2 Share - You'll need about 8-10 cubic feet of freezer space for a half share of bison. This gives you enough room for a larger variety of cuts, similar to the quarter share but doubled up for more enjoyment. You will receive additional exclusive cuts from this animal including brisket, flat iron steaks, and more. Use our link below to purchase a 10 cu. ft. Costway freezer! BEST VALUE - Whole Share - You'll want to set aside about 16-20 cubic feet of freezer space. This option includes the full spread of cuts, maximizing your storage space and value. You will receive briskets, flat iron steaks, flank steaks, tri-tip, organ meats, and more! Use our link below to purchase a 18 cu. ft. Elite Kitchen Supply freezer!

A: Frozen bison meat from Bluestem Bison can last up to 2 years when stored properly in a freezer set at 0°F (-18°C) or lower. For optimal quality and flavor, we recommend using within 12 months. Bluestem Bison meat is kept frozen and fresh in individual vacuum-sealed clear plastic bags. Burger meat is kept frozen and fresh in 1 pound plastic burger bags.

A: While “buffalo” and “bison” are often used interchangeably, they’re actually not the same animal. Buffalo refers to a different species such as water buffalo in Africa or Asia, whereas Bison are native to North America. True buffalo meat is rare in the United States and can often be misleading on labels. You’ll also notice a difference between the taste and texture of their meats, with bison being sweeter and leaner. You will only receive 100% true bison meat from Bluestem Bison Ranch.

A: The terms "grass-fed" and "grass-finished" bison refer to the animal's diet and how it was raised, with key differences relating to the duration and type of feed at different stages of the bison's life. Grass-Fed Bison: The term "grass-fed" means that the bison was raised on grass or forage for a significant portion of its life. However, in this does not necessarily mean that the bison was fed only grass for its entire life. Some grass-fed bison may be grain-finished, meaning that toward the end of their life, the animals are fed grains (such as corn or soy) to fatten them up before harvest. This is done to increase the marbling of the meat and get them to market weight as quickly as possible. Grass-Finished Bison: Grass-finished bison means the animal finished its life eating grass or forages, including up to the point of harvest. At Bluestem Bison Ranch, this means that no grains were introduced at any stage of the animal's development. This results in leaner meat with a different nutrition and flavor profile compared to grain-finished bison. Grass-finished meat tends to have a more robust, earthy taste and a lower fat content. Bluestem Bison are 100% Grass-Fed and Grass-Finished, raised free of confined feeding with corn, soy, and GMO feeds. They graze native, chemical-free prairie grasses for their entire life. This creates a leaner, healthier, and lighter meat compared to grain-finished bison.

A: No, not ever. Our bison are free to roam the land, grazing on native grasses and plants 24/7 - 365 days per year. They are never confined to gain weight and increase muscle mass, nor are they given synthetic hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified substances. Unlike many conventional livestock farms, our bison are never grain-fed or grain-finished, and you can taste it in the quality of their meat.

A: Bison maintain ecological balance by promoting native plant growth, preventing overgrowth, and keeping grasslands healthy with their constant, non-repetitive grazing. Their hooves churn the soil, aiding seed dispersion, aeration, and reducing erosion. Their wastes naturally redistribute seeds and fertilize the soil. Bluestem Bison Ranch uses regenerative practices without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. This enhances soil health, promotes biodiversity, and ensures ecosystem sustainability. Choosing our bison meat supports environmental stewardship.

A: Yes! At Bluestem Bison Ranch, we take immense pride in the humane treatment of our bison. We never confine or forcefully reproduce these majestic creatures. Our approach emphasizes minimal human interference, allowing the bison to live naturally and freely. Harvesting is done on the very land where they are raised, honoring their life with a respectful celebration. This ethical practice ensures that our bison meat is not only naturally delicious and nutritionally rich but also ethically sourced. Bluestem Bison Ranch sets itself apart by maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare, making it far removed from conventional practices in the industry.

A: We like to say that the proof of how our bison are raised can be tasted in the quality and purity of their meat. Bison protein has a rich, slightly sweet flavor that some say is similar to beef, but cleaner and more delicate. Because it is lower in fat with less marbling, it’s also less greasy and more tender than beef. Our grass-fed, free-roaming bison provide a robust, earthy flavor that you won’t find anywhere else.

A: Ultimately, we have to leave that decision up to you — but we think YES! Nutritionally, bison meat is leaner than beef, providing less fat and fewer calories per serving. Bison also provides more protein and healthy omega-3 fatty acids than beef. Plus, our bison are always grass-fed (not grain-finished) and never given antibiotics or hormones, which is not typical for conventional beef. Read our blog article here: Learn more about the nutritional comparison of Bison vs. Wagyu

A: Yes, bison is classified as red meat because it contains high levels of myoglobin (a protein found in muscle tissue), giving it a darker reddish color similar to beef. However, bison is leaner and lower in saturated fat than beef.

A: From a bison meat nutrition standpoint, yes. While poultry generally provides fewer calories and total fat than bison, our bison provides more protein, omega-3 fats, and essential nutrients like vitamins B6 and B12, iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium, making it an excellent addition to your diet.

A: We’re not here to tell you what to do, but from our perspective, yes! There’s no reason most people couldn’t include grass-fed, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free bison meat in their daily diet. Is bison meat healthy? Yes! Bison provides lean protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and essential nutrients, making it a great addition to an overall healthy diet that also includes fruits, veggies, and whole grains.

A: Bison meat is lower in fat compared to other red meats which makes it easier to overcook. It appears a darker red because it contains less fat and marbling compared to beef. Our ground bison burger is exceptionally lean with no added fat so it cooks very quickly. Bison steak will cook about one-third faster than a beef steak. It is advised to use lower heat for less amount of time when cooking or grilling. For best results use a meat thermometer. Overcooked meat is tough. Delicious meat is tender. Learn more Cooking Tips in our Blog Article here: