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While many people in Perryville enjoy their fair share of deer, or quail, or even duck, there will be more options at the upcoming event.
The Perryville Elks Lodge will be holding their annual Wildlife Dinner on Saturday, January 25. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the meal begins at 5 p.m. Tickets are $14 donation per person.
This event is one of the highlights for Perryville and the surrounding areas.
“This is one of my favorite events during the year,” event organizer Wayne Meyer said.
The meal offers unique food items such as venison chili, fried deer meat, barbecued raccoon and heaping portions of squirrel soup in the past. Meyer said there will be about 12 different types of meat and game.
“There’s more than just deer and the ordinary thing, Meyer said. “I know that the gumbo is made of turtle. It’s a very unique dinner.”
Meyer said that along with the different meals and guest speakers that include a Missouri Department of Conservation agent, along with a wildlife artist.
“The speakers will talk about things going on in the area,” Meyer said. “I know that one of those big things is the Chronic Wasting Disease and the conservation department is going to come in and speak about that, most likely.”
The event has drawn crowds of about 300 in recent years, and Meyer is hoping to see about that many people once again. But Meyer said that this may be one of the last years that he will be in charge of the event.
“I’m getting old,” Meyer said. “This is my 34th straight year doing this and I’ve thought about this a lot.”
The meal is prepared at the lodge, by lodge members. Members also provide the game ingredients.
As a not-for-profit organization, the Perryville Elks Lodge donates to a wide variety of different charities such as local scholarships, Backstoppers, Student of the Month awards, donations to local schools and veterans programs among several contributions.
“We don’t make a profit off this event,” Meyer said. “Everything goes back to the community.”
For more information, contact the Elks Lodge at 573-547-5552 or Meyer at 573-517-3870.
