Tagged: hunting

A statewide effort to share extra venison taken by deer hunters is bringing in record donations.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the program, called Missouri's Share the Harvest, is on track to distribute 400,000 pounds of donated meat.

The program allows deer hunters to donate the venison when they take deer to food processors. The venison is distributed through regional and local food pantries.

Northeast Missouri is popular this time of year for its deer hunting, but many local businesses worried the drought would have a negative effect on the deer population this year.

Missouri's Department of Conservation says hunters took nearly 205,000 deer during November's 11-day firearms season. That's the highest number in four years and 7.7 percent higher than last year.

Missouri hunters can fight hunger this hunting season. The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Conservation Federation of Missouri sponsor the Share the Harvest program, which helps fight hunger by allowing hunters to donate their deer meat to approved meat processors. The meat is then distributed to several food banks and local food pantries and given to those in need.