Deer donation program off to a strong start

MADISON – Wisconsin deer hunters can donate venison from deer they harvest this fall for distribution to food pantries across the state.

“Wisconsin Deer Donation 2006 is off to a great start for the 2006 deer hunting season,” says Laurie Fike, who coordinates the program for the Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Wildlife Management. “We’ve heard from some processors in the Earn-A-Buck units that they have already received 50 to 60 percent of the total they processed all season last year.”

This fall 59 counties and 143 processors are participating in the deer donation program. Hunters can help feed needy people throughout Wisconsin this fall, Fike says, by following five simple steps:

There is a separate program for donated deer taken in the chronic wasting disease (CWD) management zones. The testing program for deer shot in the CWD zones has been expanded to include both the Disease Eradication Zone and the Herd Reduction Zone. Seventeen processors will hold the venison until test results are available, and only CWD negative deer will be processed for pantries. Hunters donating deer from the CWD Zones MUST take the deer to one of these processors that will have the deer tested for CWD.

Since the fall hunting season of 2000, hunters have donated more than 35,000 deer that have provided over one million pounds of ground venison to needy families.

“Last year’s total of 7,207 deer was the third highest in the past 6 years, and I’m confident we can beat the 2004 record of 10,938,” Fike said.

A large network of volunteers including sports groups, church groups, civic organizations and food pantry staff work together to distribute the meat from the processor to the food pantries. USDA - Wildlife Services staff, Dept. of Natural Resources staff and county wildlife damage staff also help administer the program. Hunt For The Hungry, headed by Lee Dudek of northeast Wisconsin is also a strong partner in the Wisconsin Deer Donation 2006 program.

“Hunters can help keep the deer herd at established goals and help feed hungry people by donating extra deer,” Fike notes. “It would really help if hunters could take two does for every buck and donate the extra deer to the program.

Fike is also asking hunters to treat the carcass as if it were destined for their own table. “A couple bags of ice placed in the body cavity will help keep the meat cool until it is dropped off at a participating processor,” she said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie Fike - (608) 267-7974