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Venison donations will be accepted through February 5, 2012.

Ohio Department Natural Resources

COLUMBUS, OH --(Ammoland.com)- Ohio deer hunters have donated more than 79,750 pounds of venison to local food banks since opening day of deer season on September 24, according to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.

The 1,595 donated deer equal approximately 319,000 meals for needy Ohioans. Last year at this time, 2,082 deer had been donated representing 104,100 pounds of venison. The Division of Wildlife reminds hunter that there are plenty of opportunities to pursue deer in the 2011-12 season.

“I’m proud of Ohio’s deer hunters who continue to show their generosity despite overall lower harvest numbers this year as compared to last,” said Scott Zody, chief ODNR Division of Wildlife.

“I encourage hunters to get out in the field, enjoy the rest of the season and to consider donating any extra deer they are fortunate enough to harvest.”

FHFH collected 125,150 pounds of venison from 2,503 deer during all of last year’s season, which ran from September 25, 2010 to February 6, 2011.

The Division of Wildlife collaborated with FHFH to assist with the processing costs associated with donating venison to a food bank. The program allows for subsidy grants to be provided in allotments that are matched with funds generated or collected by local Ohio FHFH chapters. The division subsidized this year’s FHFH operation as an additional deer management tool, helping wildlife managers encourage hunters to harvest more does.

Venison that is donated to participating food banks must be processed by a federal, state or locally inspected and insured meat processor. Hunters wishing to donate their deer are not required to pay for the processing of the venison as long as the program has funds available to cover the cost.

Currently, there are 78 participating meat processors across the state and 34 FHFH local chapters. 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 list of coordinators, program names and the counties they serve.

The ODNR 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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Several Counties Have Funding to Process Deer, Deliver Meat to Food Banks in Time for Christmas.

Tennessee Wildlife Federation's Hunters for the Hungry Program

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – -(Ammoland.com)- The Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Hunters for the Hungry program is inviting hunters across the state to donate harvested deer, so that food banks and soup kitchens have meat to serve hungry Tennesseans through the colder months.

Between now and Jan. 1, select Hunters for the Hungry processors can accept about 650 deer for free, which would provide more than 100,000 meals. Hunters can simply drop off the deer at a participating processor, and the meat is professionally butchered and distributed to local hunger-relief organizations. A list of processors with funding is available at www.tnwf.org/hunters-for-the-hungry.

“The venison that we receive from Hunters for the Hungry is a real blessing, because it is such a highHunters for the Hungry quality and versatile source of protein for those we serve,” said Shannon Niswander, kitchen manager at Room in the Inn in Nashville.

“We provide hundreds of meals on a daily basis to folks in our area who otherwise wouldn’t have anything to eat, and they really enjoy the dishes we prepare with venison.”

Based upon available funding, processors are allotted a quota for the number of deer that Hunters for the Hungry will subsidize. Beyond these quotas, any whole deer processed is paid for by the hunter at the same discounted rate, typically $40. All processors are certified by the state department of agriculture.

The Hunters for the Hungry program began in Tennessee in 1999. In its first year, the program collected 7,000 pounds of venison, providing 28,000 meals. Today, those numbers stand at more than 110,000 pounds annually, providing nearly half a million meals each year. By the end of this deer season, the program will have provided more than three million meals to hungry Tennesseans in just over a decade.

Founded in 1946, The Tennessee Wildlife Federation is dedicated to the conservation, sound management and enjoyment of Tennessee’s wildlife and natural resources for current and future generations through stewardship, advocacy and education. For more information, visit www.tnwf.org

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