With the upcoming Georgia Hunters for the Hungry (GHFTH) collection weekend scheduled for Oct. 27-28, 2007, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) announces a change in the Dawsonville collection site location. WRD has relocated the Dawsonville collection site from Dawsonville City Hall to the Georgia Forestry Commission – Dawson Forest Unit/Hightower Educational Forest to avoid potential conflict with the annual Moonshine Festival, which is scheduled for the same weekend. The new site, just one mile east of the old site, offers improved convenience to hunters who want to participate in the event.

The new location, the Georgia Forestry Commission – Dawson Forest Unit/Hightower Educational Forest, is located on Hwy. 53, adjacent to the Etowah River, one mile east of Dawsonville City Hall or approximately 1.5 miles west of GA 400 (4500 Hwy. 53, Dawsonville, Ga. 30534).

“By relocating the Dawsonville collection site, donating hunters will avoid the large crowds anticipated for the festival,” explains Senior Wildlife Biologist Brandon Anderson. “The new site is more convenient to our customers and will certainly be less congested.”

The GHFTH program, now in its 16th year, is an annual fall event in which hunters are able to donate harvested deer at designated collection sites around the state to benefit hungry Georgians. Last year, a record 29,000 pounds was collected and processed into ground venison by participating game processing sites and the Dept. of Corrections. The Georgia State Association of Food Banks distributes the meat received each year to non-profit agencies that provide food assistance to local communities throughout the state.

The successful collection and distribution of nearly 200,000 pounds of venison over the past 15 years is credited to the collaborative efforts of the Georgia Wildlife Federation, the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia State Association of Food Banks and the Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources and Parks and Historic Sites Divisions.

Hunters can donate deer in one of two ways – at one of seven (7) weekend collection sites that will be available on Oct. 27-28, 2007 and from Sept. 8, 2007 – Jan. 1, 2008 at eight (8) additional collection sites hosted by deer processors.

Hunters interested in participating in GHFTH should bring field-dressed deer to any designated collection location (see website: www.gohuntgeorgia.com; select “Hunting” then “Hunters for the Hungry”). All hunters who donate a deer will be entered into a drawing for a deer rifle, sponsored by the Georgia Wildlife Federation.

For more information on donating game to those in need during other times of the year, call the Atlanta Community Food Bank at (404) 892-FEED. For more information on the GHFTH program, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com, contact a WRD Game Management Office or call (770) 761-3044.

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