Hunting in the Upper Peninsula is a bit of a way of life. For some, it's a great way to feed the family. For others, it's a great sport in which to hunt for and take down trophy big game.
No matter which way you look at hunting, however, you could help fight hunger by sharing the rewards of your deer-hunting efforts with the less fortunate.
Sportsmen Against Hunger is a program that began in 1991 and is designed to help hunters donate venison to those in need.
"The program's a win-win situation," explains Dean Hall, chairman of Sportsmen Against Hunger. "We have a lot of people out there--especially during times like these--who need help getting enough to eat. We can help the soup kitchens and shelters and food pantries with donations of venison."
Although the program is designed for deer hunting season, Hall says his crew has been active all summer, too, working with landowners who have crop-damage permits identify programs that can use the venison.
"Anyone who donates a whole deer does not have to pay any processing fees," Hall says. "We reimburse the processors for their efforts. And sportsmen who wish to donate as little as a pound or two of venison can donate, too."
Hall recommends interested hunters go to the
group's website for a list of processors who are enrolled in the program. They can donate small amounts of venison to those processors, who will pass it along to appropriate recipients.
Last year, sportsmen donated 23,000 pounds--almost 100,000 servings--of venison to the effort.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Dean Hall, Sportsmen Against Hunter
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