Funding, Time Remains for Hunters to Donate Deer to Feed Those Out of Work

During the holidays, there’s still time and funding for hunters to donate their harvest to Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Hunters for the Hungry program.

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“Every year, we cover tens of thousands of dollars in processing costs so hunters can donate deer free of charge and help their hungry neighbors,” said Matt Simcox, Hunters for the Hungry manager. “With thousands of Tennesseans hungry due to COVID, we’re pleased to still have funds to cover costs for hunters who want to donate whole deer to the program.”

Hunters for the Hungry feeds Tennesseans in need by providing hunger relief organizations with venison donated by generous deer hunters. The venison is processed and then provided to local food banks and soup kitchens.

“With a couple of weeks left in deer season, we can—together—still feed tens of thousands,” added Simcox. “Every deer donated goes a long way to feed our communities, especially during the holidays. A single deer provides 168 servings of lean, healthy protein.”

Since 1998, the program has collected and shared 1.9 million pounds of venison with Tennessee’s hungriest.

If deer donations surpass available funding for this season, hunters can pay a reduced, $50 processing fee or redeem a Deer Coin.

In partnership with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), Hunters for the Hungry will test every deer donated within Unit CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) for the disease. Hunters for the Hungry will also test many of the donations made outside Unit CWD in Region 1.

Only whole deer donations will be accepted in Region 1. Pound or Pack donations, which allow hunters to give a portion of their harvest, will continue to be accepted in the rest of the state. Hunters for the Hungry will properly discard all donations that test positive for CWD.

Learn more about Hunters for the Hungry at tnwf.org/HuntersForTheHungry.