Who doesn't want to be this guy?! Having a fist pump moment because his order arrived so awesomely...
Cool part is, so many of our customers actually expereince this. And you can too!
Successful deliveries take a lot of intentionality.
Read on to learn our process and why you can have confidence when ordering with Northstar.
Why shipping food can feel intimidating.
For many people, the scariest part about ordering food online is shipping. Many brands mess this up so it only adds to the level of apprehension...
- Will it stay frozen?!
- Will it arrive on time?!
- What happens if something goes wrong?!
With humble confidence; we got you.
We invest significant time, energy, and care into making sure your order arrives safely and in excellent condition. From weather monitoring to dry ice calculations to delivery tracking, every step of the process is intentional.
We want you to know your order is in good hands.
How we prepare your order.
After cutting and packaging, all products are flash frozen and held around 0°F to preserve freshness and quality.
Then every Monday morning, before the sun is even up, our shipping team is analyzing weather patterns, transit conditions, and delivery routes across the country to determine:
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what is safe to ship,
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where conditions may create delays,
- and how much dry ice each shipment will require.
We intentionally ship orders so they arrive the same week and never sit in transit over a weekend whenever possible. Sometimes this means your order may ship a little later than expected, but we believe protecting product quality is worth the extra care.
How we protect your order.
Once your order is carefully picked, each product is individually wrapped in thick kraft paper to help prevent damage during transit. Your order is then packed with dry ice inside one of our insulated shipping containers.
Customers can choose between:
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our recyclable insulated shipping cooler, or
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our signature Nature Cooler™ — a 100% biodegradable insulated shipping container available as an upgrade at checkout.
Before your order leaves our facility, it is stored in our holding freezer until carrier pickup. This is an important detail because it cools the entire package down before transit, extending frozen holding power by up to 12 additional hours during shipping.
Every shipment includes enough dry ice to keep the package frozen for at least an additional 24 hours beyond the expected delivery window as added protection against carrier delays.
Once your package leaves our dock, we actively monitor tracking and delivery progress to help ensure it arrives safely. If we notice delays or concerns during transit, our team may proactively reach out to keep you informed.
Delivery Day.
This is where the magic happens.
Our goal is to deliver a calm, satisfying experience when you open your box.
Your order should arrive:
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frozen,
-
organized,
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protected,
- and ready for your freezer.
The intentionality behind every shipment reflects the level of care we want to provide to you and the responsibility we feel toward the products we ship.
We do not view these products as commodities. They are animal proteins we have been entrusted to steward responsibly, and that means doing everything we can to ensure a safe, successful delivery.
If something goes wrong.
Even with careful planning and monitoring, shipping carriers occasionally experience delays, damage, or lost packages.
When that happens, we are still here to help.
We offer Route Package Protection in checkout to provide added shipment protection and peace of mind during transit.
And beyond that, our customer support team genuinely cares about helping make this right.
We are here for you, please reach out.
Real People. Real Care.
We value your business. We value the products we provide.
And we believe serving customers well includes the delivery experience, not just the products themselves.
Shipping is not an afterthought for us. It is part of how we care for the food, the animals entrusted to us, and the families we serve.
Watch our shipping process in action.
Want to see how it all works?
Watch the video for a behind-the-scenes look at how Northstar Bison carefully packs and ships frozen orders across the country.
Additional shipping information.
For holiday shipping schedules, transit timing, delivery zones, more information on Route, and additional shipping policies, continue scrolling below.
About Route Shipping Protection:
Route Shipping Protection offers added peace of mind by protecting your order against loss, damage, or theft during transit. If something happens to your package, adding Route to your order makes the resolution process simple with fast replacements or refunds.
While Route is optional, orders placed without shipping protection are shipped at the customer’s risk. Northstar Bison is not responsible for packages that are delayed, lost, or damaged once they are in the carrier’s possession.
Route is very affordable. But not everyone needs or wants Route. Our decision to offer Route is out of a desire to put the decision in your hands. Some folks need it, others don't. Without Route, we end up footing the bill on losses which, in the end, costs everyone, which we're trying to protect against.
2026 Holiday Shipping Schedule
Martin Luther King Jr. Week (1/19)
- No Standard Shipments (cut off: 1/12 @ 9 am CT)
- Next Day & 2 Day Express Shipping Only
Memorial Week (5/25)
- No Standard Shipments (cut off: 5/18 @ 9 am CT)
- Next Day & 2 Day Express Shipping Only
- Closed Monday (5/25) due to Memorial Day
4th of July Week (6/30)
- Normal Shipping Hours
Labor Day Week (9/7)
- No Standard Shipments (cut off: 8/31 @ 9 am CT)
- Next Day & 2 Day Express Shipping Only
- Closed Monday (9/7) due to Labor Day
Thanksgiving Week (11/23)
- No Standard Shipments (cut off: 11/16 @ 9 am CT)
- Next Day & 2 Day Express Shipping Only
- Closed Thursday (11/26) due to Thanksgiving
Christmas Week (12/22)
- Normal Shipping Hours
- Closed Friday (12/25) due to Christmas
New Years Eve Week (12/28)
- Normal Shipping Hours
- Closed Friday (1/1) due to the New Year
*Please Note: we do not offer Saturday delivieres during holiday periods as delivery success diminishes.
**Same-day-shipping cut off is 9 AM CST for all service types.
Standard Shipping
(ships every Monday)
- Orders less than $100 —> $20.95
- Orders more than $100 but less than $250 —> $15.95
- Orders $250+ —> Free Standard Shipping
UPS Map
*All orders shipped with enough dry ice to keep your package frozen throughout duration of transit
Alaska & Hawaii
Ship Express ONLY.
Will Not Ship Standard.
Need it Faster? Upgrade!
- $25.95 for 2 Day Express
(ships Mondays & Tuesdays)
-
For Next Day Express
- Orders less than $250 —> $50.00
- Orders more than $250 —> $80.00
(ships Monday thru Wednesday)
*Please Note; the shipping method chosen does not necessarily determine when the order will ship.
EG: 2-Day shipping means 2-Days in transit, not necessarily that you'll receive your package 2 days from your order date.
Shipping perishable products requires avoiding transit delays like weekends and holidays. Your order will ship as soon as the transit time allows, which could be same day or the following Monday depending on the exact timing of the order.
EG: An order placed on Thursday with a 2-Day shipping method selected, will ship the following Monday. Any questions regarding shipping methods and transit times, please shoot us a quick message so we can make sure we meet your expectations!
ADDRESS CHANGE
After an order is placed, there will be a $25 dollar fee for a shipping address change.
To do this please give our office a call @715-458-4300
ORDER CANCELLATIONS
If you need to cancel your order after it has been placed please note that cancellations made ore than 24 hours after the order
was
submitted will be subject to a 20% restocking fee. We appreciate your understanding as we begin processing and preparing your
order shortly after it's placed
to ensure timely delivery and product quality"
Delivery Tips
Over the years we've found a few tricks that can improve the success of your deliveries. Take a gander at the few simple pointers of what to expect and how best to prepare for the arrival of your precious package so you can have your very own fist-pump moment. :)
When is it Coming?
Know what day your package is set to arrive. Click the "Track Your Package" button in your shipping confirmation and set a reminder in your phone or on your calendar as to what day your package will arrive.
We all have lots going on and it's easy to forget!
P.S. If you haven't signed up for UPS My Choice you may want to!
See status updates, change package pick up locations, and more.
What if I'm not home?! --> Just leave a note.
If you plan to be gone during the day (or even if you'll be home it's still not a bad idea) when your package is likely to arrive, it's always a great idea to leave your delivery person a nice note stating where they can leave the package. In the shade and out of plain view of the street is a perfect place.
What do I do with my box?
Recycle or compost! The cardboard and styrofoam is 100% recyclable, our Nature Cooler insulation panels are 100% biodegradable. Or you can store the box and use it again for a day at the lake, keeping groceries cold on your way home, or any other use you may have for a cooler.
Thawing?
Though we try to avoid any thawing at all costs, things happen. If your box arrives for whatever reason with thawing, don't throw it away. Take a picture, put everything away in the fridge/freezer, and then reach out. Grass fed meats are much different than ordinary meats. They don't as readily host e-coli or salmonella, the main concerns with thawing and refreezing meat. If some of the meat is thawed but still cold there is a strong possibility it isn't trash. But shoot us a call or an email, we want to make sure we know about the situation and also want to make sure you're well taken care of.
Thawing for Meal Prep Tips
Now, to intentionally thaw a package of meat, we recommend putting it on a plate or bowl in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf. The refrigerator is the best place to thaw meat slowly while keeping bacterial activity very low. Thawing on a plate or bowl will contain any potential leaking.... the meat packaging can sometimes have a microscopic pin hole somewhere in the plastic that occurred during shipping or through handling that you cannot find with your eyes but will become obvious once the package thaws. This is not typical but is a good precaution to avoid having to clean up your fridge.
Shipping Rates & Transit Times
Please Note; the shipping method chosen does not necessarily determine when the order will ship.
EG: 2-Day shipping means 2-Days in transit, not necessarily that you'll receive your package 2 days from your order date.
Shipping perishable products requires avoiding transit delays like weekends and holidays. Your order will ship as soon as the transit time allows, which could be same day or the following Monday depending on the order date.
EG: An order placed on Thursday with a 2-Day shipping method selected, will ship the following Monday. Any questions regarding shipping methods and transit times, please shoot us a quick message so we can make sure we meet your expectations!
100% Biodegradable Shipping Coolers
Our Nature Cooler shipping box insulation is 100% recycled, 100% Biodegradable!
Nature Cooler is made of 100% biodegradable cotton material. You can reuse Nature Cooler, throw it away or even compost it yourself. If you don't have styrofoam recycling services near you or simply prefer a more organic material, this is the way to go!
Overwhelming feelings of doing good for the environment may ensue.
We make every effort to ship your order as soon as possible. However, in order to ensure the freshest product, we operate on a "just in time" inventory system. This means that some of our products may be momentarily unavailable and your shipment may be delayed, in which case, we will reach out to let you know your order status.
Again, prompt service is a top priority along with our superior quality products and will attempt to ship orders placed before noon the same day if the chosen shipping method will deliver the package safely before the weekend.
PLEASE NOTE: All orders are shipped on a first come - first served basis. UPS Ground cannot specify a time frame of when they can deliver but they state the package should get there anytime between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. If shipping to a business please state your hours of operation Monday thru Friday. If you are ordering and must choose 3 Day Shipping, please try to order the week prior because if you order after Monday Noon CST, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, your order will not ship until the next following Monday.
If you need a price quote before your order is shipped, either call or indicate that on your order in the "comment" section. We would love to answer any questions you have so feel free to reach out to us at contact@northstarbison.com
Northstar Bison Store Locations:
1) Pickup Location for products Monday thru Friday 8 til 5 pm.
The Northstar Bison Store is located at:
222 Birch Ave
Cameron, WI 54822
715-458-4300