Ozark Deer Hunters Help Feed the Hungry

Story by: Guest Contributor

First posted on 11-13-2008

Springfield, MO --- Back in 1992, concerned about the hunger that burdens many Missourians, the Department of Conservation started Share the Harvest, a program that provides an easy way for hunters to donate venison they harvest during the state’s firearms and archery deer seasons to those in need.

Sponsored statewide by Bass Pro Shops, Shelter Insurance, The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City, the Safari Club International, Whitetails Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the JB Reynolds Foundation of Kansas City Conservation Federation of Missouri, the program has distributed tons of donated venison to thousands of people all over Missouri during the past sixteen years. Last year state wide, more than 260,000 pounds of venison went to local charities in Missouri to feed the hungry.

“The benefits of this program are almost incalculable, said Conservation Federation Director Dave Murphy. “The obvious benefit is putting more than a million servings of high-protein, low-fat meet on needy people’s plates. What is not as obvious is all the crop damage, traffic accidents and human injuries that have been prevented by keeping growth of our state’s deer herd in check.”

Bass Pro Shops is the Greene County sponsor and works with J&L Custom Processing in Walnut Grove and Turner Meat Processing in Fair Grove for the processing of deer in the local Share the Harvest program. Bass Pro Shops then picks up the processed venison and delivers it to Crosslines who allocates it to those in need according to supply.

Hunters can donate as much of their deer as they like at approved processing plants. They will have to pay any processing fees. If they donate the entire deer to the program, the hunter’s bill is automatically reduced by $35. Information on the program is available at each processing plant, online at http://www.missouriconservation.org/hunt/deer/share/, or contacting the Conservation Federation at 573-634-2322.

“This great program would not be possible without the generosity of Ozarks deer hunters,” stated Bass Pro Shops Corporate Public Relations Manager and local coordinator Larry Whiteley. “They spend a lot of time and money in pursuit of the Ozarks whitetail deer and then to turn around and donate all or part of their venison to those less fortunate than themselves is truly exceptional.”

Deer hunting seasons and regulations are available at http://www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/deer/

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