Green University® LLC Presents... Meat Me in Montana
Deer Processing Intensive with Shelby Kolar and Raye Schmalstig River Camp: Cardwell, Montana November 1 - 16, 2025 Class size limited to 12 participants
Do you want to become an expert at skinning and butchering deer, eating the whole animal, tanning its hide and making clothing out of buckskin? Come to Montana this November for an immersive woman-led deer processing experience!
Join Shelby and Raye for sixteen days of fun and intensive learning. When the opportunity arises, we'll work with legal roadkill game and learn to skin deer like an expert, without leaving holes or knife marks in the hides. Learn the art of braintanning and make your own beautiful braintan buckskin. Then learn and practice effective stitches using buckskin thong as thread. You will also have the opportunity to skin hocks for projects, pull deer toes for jingling, and extract tendons and bones for tools. Learn how to butcher roadkill deer for nutritious, free wild venison.
This class includes a two-day Sheep Processing Class with a full sheep butchering experience where you'll have the opportunity to learn how to use every part of an animal for food and craft.
Green University LLC raises a flock of Icelandic sheep to assist with fuels reduction for fire prevention, as well as weed control at River Camp. Our flock of ewes and rams greatly multiplies every spring. We have the necessity and pleasure of learning how to humanely kill and process an entire animal for the most nutritious food this good earth provides. This class includes instruction on how to humanely kill an animal with only a knife.
We will then learn how to eat every edible part of the animal through making gourmet dishes such as intestine stuffed organ sausage, blood chocolate pudding, stomach bread, tongue tacos, maximally nutritious bone broth, tender roasts and braises, and rocky mountain oysters.
Learn how to break down a medium-sized animal into food! We will:
- Quarter the animal
- Braise legs
- Clean intestines for sausage and crafts
- Use all the organs
- Render fat
- Preserve meat through making jerky and pemmican
- Make high quality bone and tendon broth
- Cook with blood
- We will be feasting a ton!
In this class you will learn the basics of skinning and tanning, and how to care for and preserve freshly skinned hides for tanning. Each student will tan a whitetail or mule deer hide, with the potential to tan a second hide if time allows. When weather forces us inside we will practice stitches, process sinew for sewing and crafting, along with learning the basics of collecting and working bone, antler, hoof, and horn. We will have a buckskin fashion show-and-tell to see all the amazing things you can make with buckskin. We will make a small pouch to learn all the necessary stitches - and some fancy ones too! Class also includes a stewardship day to clean up the site and keep it nice for future students.
Tuition includes lodging in wickiups and an earthlodge along the Jefferson River near the base of the Tobacco Root Mountains in Cardwell, Montana. These spaces can get crowded, so please bring your own tent, car, or camper if want personal space.
We will be working hard and eating hearty. Plan to take turns cooking communal dinners out of all the wonderful meat we will be processing. The River Camp kitchen often has plenty of communal rice, fruit and veggies, but please bring any additional food or snacks you know you'll want.
We will check in with each student by phone prior to the class to make sure you come fully prepared, but you won't need much more than a knife, sleeping bag, and appropriate fall clothing. Also consider bringing a swimsuit and towel as we often go to a local hot springs to relax at the end of the day.
We Look forward to sharing this fall harvest and tanning season with you!
No Drugs, Alcohol, or Tobacco
Green University®: LLC is a drug, alcohol and tobacco-free learning establishment. Our staff maintains a sober environment for individuals who are excited about nurturing a deeper nature connection. Anyone distracted with alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or other drugs is not focused on learning or optimizing their experience at Green University® LLC. Therefore, we have a zero tolerance policy for drugs, alcohol, and tobacco in any form. Anyone violating this rule will be asked to leave. This is not a joke. Please read this paragraph again before signing up. Thank you.
This is the most intensive animal processing class out there, and the cost is only $1,450! Limit: 12 students. To register, please fill out and mail in the Medical History (PDF) and Liability Waiver and Release (PDF) forms, along with a check for $500 to reserve your spot. The balance can be paid upon arrival. Or register online through the shopping cart system and send the paperwork separately.
Green University® LLC Trademark
This class includes a two-day Sheep Processing Class with a full sheep butchering experience where you'll have the opportunity to learn how to use every part of an animal for food and craft.
Tuition includes lodging in wickiups and an earthlodge along the Jefferson River near the base of the Tobacco Root Mountains in Cardwell, Montana. These spaces can get crowded, so please bring your own tent, car, or camper if want personal space. 
We will be working hard and eating hearty. Plan to take turns cooking communal dinners out of all the wonderful meat we will be processing. The River Camp kitchen often has plenty of communal rice, fruit and veggies, but please bring any additional food or snacks you know you'll want. 
