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95,500 Pounds of Venison Donated So Far This Season
Still time for hunters to donate extra venison to the needy.

Ohio Division of Wildlife

COLUMBUS, OH –-(AmmoLand.com)- Ohio deer hunters have donated more than 95,500 pounds of venison to local food banks so far this deer season, according to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The 95,500 pounds equals approximately 382,000 meals for needy Ohioans. To date, 1,910 deer have been donated with plenty of deer hunting opportunity left in the 2009-10 season. Last year at this time, 671 deer had been donated representing 33,550 pounds of venison.

Last year FHFH collected 54,800 pounds of venison from 1,096 deer through the entire season, from September 2008 to February 1, 2009.

“I applaud Ohio hunters for their generosity and continue to encourage them to donate what they can so Ohio’s food pantries will receive the nutritious red meat they so desperately need,” said David M. Graham, chief of the Division of Wildlife.

Hunters still have a weekend of deer-gun hunting, December 19-20, and eight weeks of archery hunting; the archery season remains open until February 7, 2010. The statewide muzzleloader deer-hunting season will be held January 9-12, 2010.

FHFH.org

The Division of Wildlife collaborated with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) in an effort to assist with the processing costs associated with donating venison to a food bank. A $100,000 subsidy grant was provided in two $50,000 allotments that are to be matched with funds generated or collected by FHFH. The division subsidized this year’s FHFH operation as an additional deer management tool, helping wildlife managers encourage hunters to kill more does.

Venison donated to food banks must be processed by a federal, state or locally inspected and insured meat processor that is participating with FHFH. Hunters wishing to donate their deer to a food bank are not required to pay for the processing of the venison as long as the program has funds available to cover the cost. There are presently 65 participating meat processors across the state. A list is provided at www.fhfh.org.

Currently there are 33 local chapters across the state with a need for more. Anyone interested in becoming a local program coordinator or a participating meat processor should visit the “Local FHFH” page at www.fhfh.org. The Web page includes a current list of coordinators, program names and the counties they serve.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at www.ohiodnr.com.

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Local Ohio Food Pantries Welcome Venison Donations
Safari Club International and Shawnee Outdoorsmen Association to help feed the hungry.

Ohio Division of Wildlife

XENIA, OH –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Southwest Ohio Chapter of Safari Club International (SCI) along with Shawnees Outdoorsmen Association and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife donated venison to several Southwest Ohio food pantries in recent weeks.

Hunters wishing to donate their deer to a food bank are, in most cases, required to pay for the processing of the venison. Organizations, such as Safari Club International, local conservation clubs and private meat processors, have helped absorb the cost of deer processing in some areas.

These efforts have resulted in recent donations of nearly 400 lbs. of venison in Adams, Brown, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties. Food pantries generally receive very little red meat donations. Any monetary donations they do receive are then used to buy meat. The monies cannot be used for administrative fees and the food pantries and banks are run by volunteers, not paid employees.

The Southwest Ohio Chapter of Safari Club International has funded venison donations in this area of the state for more than 10 years through their Hunters Feeding the Hungry program. A total of 200 lbs. was distributed to needy families in a five-county area the first week of December.

This year the Shawnee Outdoorsmen Association, in Adams County, also paid for deer processing. Almost 200 lbs. of venison was distributed locally prior to Thanksgiving through the New Life Fellowship of Adams County.

Hunters in Ohio will have plenty of opportunity to harvest multiple deer again this year during the 2009-2010 deer seasons. For more information on donating venison, visit www.wildohio.com. For information on the Southwest Ohio Chapter of Safari Club International, visit www.sciswo.org.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

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