Frequently Asked Questions
Check out our handy FAQs for quick answers about our company, products, and the ordering process.
Have a different question? Email customer service and we'll get back to you ASAP.
General FAQs
Where is The Honest Bison located?
The Honest Bison officially operates out of Camas, Washington but we have team members and Grazing Partners all over the United States that are integral to our success. Our animals are raised on different ranches in the United States, depending on the animal and supply, however, our main Grazing Partners currently are:
McGinely Ranch (South Dakota)
THB Grasslands (Wisconsin)
Richards Regenerative (California)
Umpqua Valley Lamb (Oregon)
Lubinski Elk Acres (Minnesota)
No matter where we source our animals from, we maintain close working relationships with all our Grazing Partners and ensure that they follow our high standards of animal care. We pride ourselves on working with other small, family-owned businesses in America. For more information on specific Grazing Partners, visit our website.
How do I contact you?
We're always here to answer any questions you might have about our products, our animals, placing an order, or anything else we can help with. For general inquiries, you can reach us at the following methods:
Call / Text Us:
360-399-6363
Email Us:
customer.service@thehonestbison.com
How do I unsubscribe to emails/texts?
We're sorry to see you go, but we get it. An inbox can only have so many emails.
There is an "unsubscribe" button at the bottom of all our emails. Just click that and it will be radio silence from us. If you want to stop receiving texts from us, just reply to one of our messages with the word STOP.
Note: Even if you unsubscribe from our newsletters, you'll still get emails about your orders!
How do I sign up for an account?
If you've placed an order with The Honest Bison in the past, then you already have an account — you just probably haven't accessed it.
To access (or set up) your account, go to: https://thehonestbison.com/my-account/ You'll be guided through the process to sign in (use the email you usually place an order with) and set up a password. If this is your first time, click on "forgot password" and you'll be prompted to set one up.
Why do I need an account?
Great question! Signing up for an account has many valuable perks to it. Here are some of the key benefits:
- Order Info: Easily access your past order info, including tracking numbers for recent orders you're waiting for.
- Wait Lists: Add or remove yourself to the wait list for you favorite products.
- Update Account Information: Quickly see which account information is associated with your account and update it if necessary including passwords, addresses, email, payment method, etc.
- Favorite Products: Save favorite products for faster ordering in the future.
- Special Promotions: Some promotions, offers, and gifts are only available to members with active accounts! (Like a special gift on your birthday!)
What third-party certifications do you have?
Great question. We take third-party certification very seriously and are always working to improve our quality and standards. We currently have the following certifications:
Land to Market
American Grassfed Association
Global Animal Partnership
Certified B Corp
Audubon Society Bird-Friendly Pastures
Product FAQs
Which of your meats are 100% grass-fed?
Our Bison, Beef, and Lamb are all 100% grass-fed from start to finish. This means they are never fed grains nor do they spend any time in a feedlot. They are in open pastures according to their natural grazing patterns.
Are your Elk and Venison grass-fed?
Our Elk and Venison are farm-raised and naturally grazed, meaning they are free to forage as they would naturally. A 100% grass-fed diet is not sustainable or preferable to Elk and Venison. Instead, they eat a combination of native grasses, wild grains, bark, and berries. They are never given grains, hormones, or antibiotics — nor do they spend any time in a feedlot.
How are your grazing partners selected?
How our animals are raised and treated is something we refuse to compromise on. We believe every animal deserves to live happily in open pastures and as close to their natural tendencies as possible. Each of our Grazing Partners is carefully chosen because they share our values and beliefs that mother nature deserves to be respected, honored, and nourished. Together, we work hand-in-hand to establish and follow best practices for sustainable, holistic, and humane ranching.
Are your animals given antibiotics or hormones?
Our animals are not given any added hormones (all animals have naturally occurring hormones, just like humans). It's worth noting that the use of hormones is federally prohibited when raising Bison, Pork, and Poultry. Our animals are also never given any antibiotics. Any animals that require antibiotics for medical reasons are separated from the supply that we source from, ensuring the meat we sell is always antibiotic-free!
How do I cook Bison, Elk, or Venison?
If you're new to cooking leaner meats like Bison, Elk, and Venison, you'll find it's a bit different than cooking beef. Here are a few easy guidelines to help you out:
Meats like bison, elk, and venison are naturally leaner than beef, so they take less time to cook and require much lower temperatures. Grassfed meats – like our bison – are even leaner.
Quick Tip: Aim for 1/3 the cooking time and temperature required for beef
Once you get used to cooking wild game, it gets easier, but since cutting into your meat before it’s done will let all the tasty juices out and leaving it on too long will overcook it, we recommend investing in a good meat thermometer. Depending on how you like your meat, aim for the following temperatures:
Rare: 119-125 F
Medium Rare: 125-130 F
Medium: 130-135 F
Note: The temperature will rise a few degrees while resting, so remember to take that into account.
As hard as it will be to wait, don’t cut into your meat the second it comes off the grill. Let it stand for 5-10 minutes to seal in all the juices. It would be a shame to let all that goodness spill out onto the cutting board.
And there you have it. Simple. Delicious. And perfectly cooked every single time.
How do I thaw your meats?
There are two easy ways to thaw your meat so that it maintains its natural flavor, texture, and nutrients:
- Place meat on a plate and leave it in your fridge overnight.
- Place meat in an airtight plastic bag and submerge in a bowl of ice water, monitoring the water temperature to make sure it doesn't get to warm.
Please do NOT use your microwave to thaw your meat as this will often also partially cook the meat, resulting in tough or overcooked meat when you do cook it.
How long will your meats last in my freezer?
If the package is still fully sealed, our meats will last anywhere from six months to one year in your freezer. Steaks and larger cuts will last up to a year whereas ground meats and some smaller cuts are best consumed within six months.
Note: The meat is still safe to consume even after these dates as long as it is still sealed and frozen. You may however notice a degradation in flavor and texture with prolonged freezing.
What is the best way to store your meats?
Our meat arrives frozen and should be kept in your freezer until you're ready to enjoy it. Then, simply defrost it slowly in your refrigerator or in a bowl of cold water. Never use a microwave to thaw your meat as the heat will cook the meat in some places, resulting in poor taste and texture!
Ordering, Shipping & Delivery
My coupon code isn't working.
If you're trying to use a coupon code but it isn't working, this might be due to a few reasons:
- The code or promotional period has expired and the code is no longer valid
- You have already used this code in the past and it's a one-time code
- There is an item in your cart (or lack of items) that is preventing the code from working. For example, a product is excluded from the sale
- You entered the code incorrectly
If you've double-checked the code and promotional terms but still feel there is an error, we would be happy to look into it for you.
Please contact us at:
(360) 399-6363 or
customer.service@thehonestbison.com
My credit card was declined.
If you were trying to make a purchase and your credit card was declined, there may be several reasons:
- The card is expired.
- The purchase exceeds your limit.
- Your financial institution believes the purchase to be fraudulent.
Double-check that all numbers were entered correctly and try again, try a different card or contact your financial institution directly. If you're still having trouble placing an order, please contact our customer service department directly and one of our agents will be happy to help with your order!
I need to cancel my order.
Awwww. We're sorry to hear that you want to cancel your order, but we understand.
As long as your order has not been packed and shipped out, we can usually cancel it for you. Please call or email our customer service department as soon as you can so we can help. If your order has already been packed and shipped, we will not be able to cancel it.
Customer Service:
Call: 360-399-6363
Email: customer.service@thehonestbison.com
Do you offer Free Shipping?
Yes! We are so happy to be able to offer FREE 2-day shipping on all orders over $300 — except for orders going to Alaska and Hawaii. (Those have to be shipped via overnight.) For full shipping rates and details, please visit: https://thehonestbison.com/shipping-policies/
How much does shipping cost?
The cost of shipping will depend on the size of your order and your location. You can check your exact rate during the checkout process or refer to the chart on this page: https://thehonestbison.com/shipping-policies/
How are your shipping rates calculated?
Our shipping is calculated based on your region, the total weight of your order and how fast you want it delivered.
It includes the price of handling, dry ice, and the insulated box, which help keep your meat frozen in transit.
The best way to find out how much shipping will be is to fill out your address on the checkout page but this page is good for a quick reference: https://thehonestbison.com/shipping-policies/
When will my order arrive?
Hungry, huh? We feel you!
How long your order will take to arrive depends on a few things: where you live, when you placed your order, and which shipping method you chose.
Generally speaking, most orders will arrive within 3-7 days of placing the order. Why such a range? To ensure that your meat arrives safely still frozen, we only ship on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. So if you ordered on Thursday, your order wouldn't ship until the following Monday, most likely arriving on the Wednesday or Thursday (depending on where you live)
Of course, if you want your meat ASAP, we have several expedited shipping options including overnight and Saturday delivery. Rush delivery fees are based on weight and destination.
Please contact us directly if you need your meat by a certain date and are unsure which method to select.
It's been a long time since I ordered. Where is my meat?
We know you're eagerly anticipating your order and we appreciate your patience. There could be a couple reasons for a delay in your order.
- Depending on when you ordered (what day of the week), your order may not actually go out until the following Monday. This ensures that your meat arrives safely frozen as our orders are not delivered on the weekends unless you specifically chose (and paid for) Saturday delivery.
- It's possible that your package was delivered but not to your front door. Check your tracking number - if it says delivered, then check around the outside of your house or ask neighbors. If you still can't find it, contact us and we will help you locate it or replace it.
- Due to circumstances no one can control this year (such as increased online demand, dry ice shortage and shutdowns), occasionally, there are delays in processing or transit. We apologize for those and promise to do our best to notify you in advance if we can.
- If it's been a really long time (like a few weeks) it's possible your package was lost in transit. If you believe this is the case, please contact us and we will either try to track it down or make it right for you.
Do you ship to AK & HI?
Unfortunately, due to the geographical distance, cost, and logistics of safely shipping frozen meat to Hawaii and Alaska, we have had to discontinue shipping to those areas. We will let you know if this changes in the future and we are able to resume servicing these locations.
Do you ship internationally?
Shipping meat products across borders is a complicated process involving many regulatory boards and government agencies. So as much as we would like to make our products available to everyone, we are currently only able to ship within the United States. We hope that changes soon!
Payment & Store Credit
What is your return policy?
We're sorry to hear that you're not happy with your order. Unfortunately, due to the nature of our product, we are unable to accept returns of any meat items once they have been shipped to you.
Our goal is to make sure that your experience and meat are of the highest quality so, if you are unhappy with your purchase, please contact email customer service directly at customer.service@thehonestbison.com and we'll do our best to make it right.
My order was defrosted when it arrived.
First of all, we are so sorry to hear that your order was defrosted when it arrived. Or meats are carefully packaged to ensure your order arrives frozen solid. If yours has arrived partially or fully defrosted, it is most likely due to an unfortunate and unforeseen delay during the shipping process.
If your meat isn't fully defrosted or is still quite cold to the touch, it is safe to consume, however, do not refreeze. If packages have broken open, are leaking or are warm to the touch, DO NOT consume.
If your order has arrived in a condition that is unacceptable for consumption or you deem to be unfit, please take photos of your order and the box it arrived in and contact us immediately to arrange for a replacement.
Some of the packages were open/ripped when they arrived.
We're sorry to hear that one or more of your packages were open upon arrival. Every package is inspected for integrity before it's packed, however, depending on how your box was handled during transit (completely out of our control), a few of the cuts may have banged up against each other along the way. The friction and weight of the heavy frozen meat hitting each other can occasionally create small tears in the packaging, resulting in a package appearing open.
While this is never how we want our products to arrive at your door and do everything we can to prevent it with packaging materials, the meat is safe to eat provided it is still frozen.
If you believe your opened package was not a result of transit friction, please take some photos of the product and packaging in question and contact us directly so we can help you out.
How is my data used?
We never sell our customers data to any third parties. We may use your data to enhance your experience on our site. For example, to save items you have viewed, send you order confirmations, or tell you about a sale. You can always change your email and SMS permissions. Read our full privacy here: https://thehonestbison.com/privacy-policy/