(STORY IMAGE:KHQ.COM)
BILLINGS, Mont. -A Montana hunting group has beef with a popular fast food restaurant chain.
The Montana Wildlife Federation is asking Arby's to reconsider its rollout of limited edition venison and elk sandwiches, which is set to begin Saturday.
The elk sandwiches are available at only three locations nationwide, one of which is in Billings.
MWF's Executive Director Dave Chadwick explained their issue is with Arby's use of farm-raised venison and elk in a letter written Wednesday. He writes there's danger in marketing wildlife as a commodity, and offering the elk sandwich in Montana is discourages the state's hunting values.
The group worries that the sandwiches could also lead to an increase in game farming, which was outlawed in Montana in 2000.
The federation says game farms hurt wild elk by spreading chronic wasting disease, and they say fundamentally, Montanans would rather hunt their own game right here in the Treasure State.
MWF says they look forward to a productive conversation with Arby's executives. Arby's says their venison sandwich was extremely popular last year. That's why they're bringing it back this year and adding the elk sandwich to the menu, too.