HARRISBURG – More than 80,000 pounds of venison were channeled to local food banks, soup kitchens and needy families in 2005 by Hunters Sharing the Harvest, a statewide outreach effort that relies on successful deer hunters, municipalities with deer-control programs, volunteer sportsmen coordinators and cooperating butcher shops.
HSH Executive Director John Plowman and state coordinator Ken Brandt said tabulations of processor invoices and local food bank reports show venison donations saw an increase of whole deer delivered to the program’s participating processors from the previous season.
Program success was attributed to effective promotion, increased news media exposure and hunters’ use of the new deer management assistance program, a deer donation concept administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Somewhat improved weather-related hunting conditions and available deer numbers also contributed to the venison donations.
Hunters are asked to voluntarily pay $15 toward each processed deer, with HSH paying the balance. A fund established by DCNR covers deer processing costs for hunters donating deer taken from DMAP areas designated by the department.
“To provide easier access to the HSH donation system and expand hunter contributions as a result, the new statewide, toll-free telephone number, sponsored by Myriad Communications, has worked far beyond expectations,” Brandt said. “Hunters with deer for the program who need information on area processors near their hunting area or homes, or who have general inquiries can call 866-474-2141, or visit www.sharedeer.org or www.pgc.state.pa.us for the latest listings and other information.”
New or additional local HSH coordinators have been recruited for Allegheny, Blair, Columbia, Huntingdon and York counties. Also, additional meat processors who meet the HSH program’s criteria are being contracted in many areas. Contact information for all 55 volunteer county coordinators and 125 participating HSH deer processors is maintained on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s homepage, under “hunting information,” and updated as needed.
For the third consecutive year, DCNR has supported the efforts of hunters seeking deer in state park and forestland DMAP areas. Hunters donating venison from deer killed in these DMAP areas will not be required to provide the requested $15 co-pay towards meat processing fees. The HSH program reimburses meat processors for the balance of their standard charge per whole deer.
“This is a win-win for needy individuals and for hunters who enjoy hunting those state forest and park lands where deer must be controlled,” said DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis. “We invite hunters concentrating on our many designated DMAP areas to support this worthy endeavor.”
Pennsylvania hunters, other individuals and business partners continue supporting HSH with tax-deductible contributions, said Plowman.
“Last year a record of more than $5,000 was received via the clip-out coupon from individuals, businesses and hunting clubs ranging from $1 to thousands-of-dollars as a result of the ‘Give A Buck For The Pot’ donation collection campaign,” Plowman said.
The coupon is included with the HSH message on Page 102 in the 2006 PA Hunting Digest booklet, which is included with each Pennsylvania hunting license.
The HSH program also receives financial assistance from the Pennsylvania General Assembly, as well as more than 50 corporate, organizational and governmental sponsors on a recurring basis to help underwrite deer processing costs.
Pennsylvania’s unique HSH venison-donation program was established in 1991 by hunters to create and manage an accountable and cost-effective delivery system for directing deer meat to the needy. HSH works directly with the state Department of Agriculture, 21 regional food banks and more than 3,000 local provider outlets to provide high-nutrition venison to the 1.3 million residents living below the poverty level.
Hunters Sharing the Harvest is an approved charitable organization registered with the Department of State, and is approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501c3 organization, with all contributions being tax-deductible.