I had the opposite experience at Santa’s Smoke House (Interior Alaska Fish Processors). We processed our 2x caribou (off bone and wrapped in butcher paper) and just wanted to use their freezer for storage over Labor Day weekend. We had 2 duffels of meat already frozen and the person that runs the show wanted $75 a day to store the meat there Friday - Monday.
We stopped by before our hunt because it was originally our plan to have them process our caribou, but the shop smelled off for a butcher shop, and the main young guy that worked there acted like he couldn’t be bothered. Didn’t inspire confidence so we decided to do it ourselves.
In the end we ended up storing our meat at Dave’s (no idea his last name) place. He’s 84 years old and an absolute gem of a human. After we decided to not use Santa’s Smokehouse, we saw a sign in his driveway that says “Game Cutting” and stopped by to talk with him. He processes about 15 caribou and moose a year as a hobby. I think he charges $2.50 a pound for a basic steak/grind and usually is a 1 day turn around from the way it sounded. Had we been in a bind for time we would have had him process our entire animals. He’s on the right side of Bradway St when heading East out of town. In the end, we paid him $50 to store our meat in one of his freezers over the weekend.
I don’t know how much longer he’ll continue to process game, but i wouldn’t hesitate to use him if needed. It also sounded like if you have a known shipper number with Alaska airlines, he will process your game then ship it from the airport for you.
