Donate Deer to Sportsmen Against Hunger

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is reminding deer hunters to keep in

mind the Sportsmen Against Hunger program this fall.

While this year’s deer proclamation allows only one deer gun license per hunter, families with more than one license might want to consider donating a deer to this worthy cause. In addition, hunters with an archery and muzzleloader license can help as well.

The list of participating processors is available on the Game and Fish Department website atgf.nd.gov, and at the North Dakota Community Action Partnership website, www.capnd.org.

Sportsmen Against Hunger is a charitable program that raises money for processing of donated goose and deer meat, and coordinates distribution of donated meat to food pantries in North Dakota. It is administered by NDCAP, a nonprofit agency that serves low-income families across the state.

For more information, visit the NDCAP website, or contact program coordinator Sarah Hasbargen at 701-232-2452.

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More than 90,000 pounds of donated venison sent to food pantries statewide in 2013

 Hunters, meat processors and food pantries helped the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and its partners donate more than 90,000 pounds of venison to those in need in 2013.

"We are very proud to be part of this community-based program," said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. "Anytime we can have a safe, successful deer hunt and donate valuable food to our pantries it's a win-win for Wisconsin."

More than 2,000 deer were donated through the DNR deer donation program and processed packages of ground venison were distributed to food pantries statewide. The number of deer donated decreased by 27 percent compared to 2012, likely a result of fewer deer harvested.

"Regardless of the number of deer donated, the program is always considered a success," said DNR wildlife damage biologist Dan Hirchert.

"The deer donation program was designed to provide an outlet for surplus deer - whether hunters consume their own deer or donate to those in need, the meat is being put to great use," Hirchert said.

Since the program began in 2000, hunters have donated more than 85,000 deer and more than 3.8 million pounds of venison. The collected meat is distributed to Wisconsin families in need of food assistance. The program relies on cooperation with counties across the state, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services and community programs like Hunt for the Hungry and Target Hunger. These organizations help organize donations, coordinate processing, and distribute venison.

For more information about the DNR's deer donation program and more on how people can help, search the DNR website dnr.wi.govfor keywords "deer donation."

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DEER DONATION PROGRAM BENEFITS IOWANS IN NEED

Iowa’s popular deer donation program Help Us Stop Hunger (HUSH) is entering into its second decade as a tool connecting hunters, lockers and hungry Iowans.

The program is pretty simple – hunters contact a participating locker before bringing in a whole, field-dressed deer, and once at the locker, they fill out a donation card. The locker processes the deer into two pound packages of ground meat. The Food Bank of Iowa then coordinates collecting the valuable protein and distributes it to local food pantries.

“Iowa deer hunters do an excellent job of using available doe tags to reduce the deer herd which simultaneously provides a needed  high protein product to the Food Bank of Iowa,” said Jim Coffey, who coordinates the HUSH program for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Bureau.  

Iowa’s HUSH program is considered a major success nationally and Coffey is often contacted by other states looking to replicate it.

Since its inception, Iowa hunters have donated more than 56,000 deer to the program. Donations peaked at about 8,000 deer in 2007.  The 5,281 deer donated by hunters in 2012 resulted in 800,000 meals being provided to needy Iowa families.

“The steady decline in donations parallels the decline in the size of the deer herd,” Coffey said. “As the herd size is reduced, hunters should work with their local landowners to harvest the number of deer that is acceptable and if they are not seeing the number of deer that they expect, it may be time to pass up on taking the extra doe.”

Iowa’s bow season is open until Dec. 6, and then reopens Dec. 23 to Jan. 10, 2014. Shotgun season one is Dec. 7-11. Shotgun season two is Dec. 14-22.

To find one of the 89 lockers participating in HUSH go to www.iowahush.com or see the list on page 34 of the2013-14 Iowa Hunting and Trapping Regulations.

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Sportsmen Against Hunger Accepting Deer, Light Goose Meat

North Dakota’s Sportsmen Against Hunger Program is again accepting donations of deer at select

processors across the state. In addition, the program is also able to accept light goose breast meat (snow, blue and Ross’s geese) for the first time this fall.

Canada goose meat, while accepted during the early goose season, is not eligible for donation during the regular waterfowl season.

Sportsmen Against Hunger is a program administered by the North Dakota Community Action Partnership, a nonprofit agency that serves low-income families across the state. SAH raises funds to pay for processing of donated deer and geese, and coordinates distribution of ground venison and goose meat to food pantries around the state.

The State Game and Fish Department strongly supports the SAH program and encourages hunters to consider donating deer, according to agency Director Terry Steinwand. The program can accept whole deer only, which must be processed at a participating licensed meat processor.

According to NDCAP Executive Director Andrea Olson, the SAH program has sufficient funding available to process deer and geese this fall. “The meat that is generated is so appreciated by the families who receive it,” Olson said. “They are all so grateful for access to a nutritious source of protein; something that is often expensive and otherwise difficult for them to obtain.”

A list of participating processors and more information is available on the Community Action website at capnd.org.

Participating processors will not accept deer shot in the hind quarters, and donated deer will be processed individually or only with other donated deer.

Hunters can clean their light geese at home prior to delivery to a processor, but breast meat brought from home without a wing or head attached to the meat, must be accompanied by written information that includes the hunter’s name, address, signature, hunting license number, date taken and species and number taken.

Hunters may also deliver light geese directly from the field to a processor, but identification must remain attached to the bird until in possession of the processor.

Hunters interested in donating light geese are encouraged to call processors to have a clear understanding of how goose breasts will be accepted.

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Help feed the hungry with donation to Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger

Venison Steaks. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Department of Natural Resources has made changes to the license sales system, making it easier for hunters and anglers to automatically add $1 to their license purchase as a donation to Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger (MSAH) - a program that supports the processing and distribution of venison to food banks and kitchens in Michigan.
Anyone can be a part of this ongoing effort to help those in need. Last year more than 26,000 pounds of donated venison was processed using funds provided through this donation program. The ground venison was then passed on to local food banks and food kitchens throughout Michigan. “It was enough venison to supply over 100,000 meals with a source of nutritious protein,” said Raymond Rustem, DNR contact for Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger. “With the new system, if just one out of 10 hunters each donated $1 this year we could easily double or triple that amount.”
Donating is easier than ever. When making a license purchase, interested hunters and anglers should let the license agent know that they would like to donate $1 to help Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger. The license agent will automatically add $1 to the license purchase total. If making the license purchase online, the buyer should click “Yes” when asked to donate to Sportsmen Against Hunger.
“Today, we have the opportunity to continue a tradition started by hunters before us, who hunted to provide food for early settlements in Michigan," said Dean Hall, president of Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger. "Hunter donations of funds or venison can help those who are experiencing hard times.”
To donate a deer, get more information about the program or find the nearest processor, visit the MSAH website at www.sportsmenagainsthunger.org.
Individuals who do not fish or hunt can also support this program. Visit the Michigan estore www.michigan.gov/estore, click on “Tax deductible donations” and then on "Help Feed the Hungry" and fill in the information about the donation.
Donors are reminded to save any receipts or forms. Donations to Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger can be used when itemizing income deductions on federal tax forms.

"Many people continue to struggle in this economy," said Rustem. "Donating to this important effort is a simple way to help."

Since 1991, Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger has been working to create linkages among donors, wild game processors and charities that feed needy individuals. MSAH is an all-volunteer organization and is led by sportsmen and women concerned about making a positive difference in the community. Together, they have assembled a network of processors and charities across Michigan to help channel wild game donations into the hands of those in need.

More than 140,000 pounds of donated venison goes to food pantries statewide in Wisconsin

An increasing number of hunters and meat processors from all around the state donated their deer and volunteered their time to provide venison to people in need in 2012.

More than 3,000 deer were donated through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources deer donation program, which were then processed and distributed to food pantries statewide.

Participation in the donation program was up 8 percent over 2011, likely a result of increased hunter turnout.

“This year was a success thanks to the generosity of participating hunters, meat processors and volunteers alike,” said Noah Balgooyen, DNR Wildlife Damage Program biologist. “Over 140,000 pounds of ground venison was distributed to Wisconsin families in need of food assistance.”

Since the program started in 2000, hunters have donated over 80,000 deer, totaling more than 3.5 million pounds of venison. The program relies on cooperation with counties across the state, USDA-Wildlife Services, and community programs such as Hunt for the Hungry and Target Hunger Venison Donation program who help organize the donations, the processing, and ultimately the delivery to food pantries.

For more information about the DNR’s deer donation program and how you can help, search the DNR website for keywords “deer donation.”

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Minnesota venison donation program available for deer hunters in 2011

Image via Wikipedia

Program allows hunters to donate venison to Minnesota food shelves

With thousands of Minnesota deer hunters preparing for the start of the firearms season this weekend, the Minnesota Hunter Harvested Venison Donation Program is once again gearing up to provide hunters with the option to donate venison to help feed hungry Minnesotans.

The venison donation program is operated by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and state food shelves.

The program provides a source of protein to people in need while helping reduce local deer populations. Minnesota hunters donated 556 deer to the program in 2010, which provided 19,725 pounds of processed venison to Minnesota food shelves.

To be eligible to donate venison to the program, hunters must have their deer processed at a state-registered meat processing plant that has agreed to participate in the program.

A list of processors can be found on the “In The Spotlight” section of the main MDA website. Hunters are strongly advised to contact the processor before bringing in a deer to make sure they are still able to handle the animal. Only entire carcasses with the hide attached can be donated. Cut and wrapped meat will not be accepted for donation. Hunters and processors must also adhere to specific standards designed to prevent food-borne illness.

Processors may only accept carcasses for donation that are:

• Free from signs of illness;
• Field dressed with the hide intact;
• Free of visible decomposition or contamination; and
• Properly identified with a Minnesota DNR registration tag.
• 
  

Processors will reject deer for the donation program that appear to have been mishandled in any way.

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