A Minnesota Hunting Tradition: Meat Raffles

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Hunting is a tradition in itself, but there are also traditions that go along with just being up north.

That's why Jamie and Edward from the WCCO This Morning show have been showing us stories all week that center on activities Minnesotans love most. It's all about gearing up for the state's deer hunt opening weekend for rifles.

When you just want to get out of the cabin and worry you won't come home with a kill, there's always a meat raffle. We take you inside Pestello's, where every Thursday night, people in Pequot Lakes pack the bar to win meat.

"We have seven different rounds and two size packs," said Manager Pamela Walker. "A $40 pack and a $10 pack."

Pamela, her daughter and granddaughter all go around and sell tickets for $1 apiece. People fight for the perfect spot at the bar.

"Run and grab your meat quick because people will jump right up," said Walker.

They also come to be social. Meat raffle attendance actually picks up in the winter, and even the losers don't get roasted because the meat raffle also benefits charity.

"It also benefits the Hockey Association," said Walker.

Edward won some nice New York Strips, while Jamie didn't win a thing.

The meat is donated from a local meat shop. There's a meat raffle almost every night in the Brainerd Lakes Area.