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State Representative Rick Hansen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-6828
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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ATTENTION DEER HUNTERS: DONATE YOUR VENISON
ST. PAUL, MN - As deer season opens this weekend, State Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL - South St. Paul) is encouraging Minnesota hunters to consider donating deer to help hungry families in need. Under a law passed by Rep. Hansen two years ago, deer carcasses donated to the state’s venison donation program will be processed at no cost to hunters. The program, operated by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources, is focused on putting high-quality, high-protein meals in the hands of hungry families.
“Over the last several years, this voluntary venison donation program has proven very successful," said Rep. Hansen. “It is an effective device of game management that gives Minnesota hunters the unique opportunity to provide essential nutrition for thousands of hungry Minnesotans.”
According to Second Harvest Heartland’s Newell Searle, the need for donations from hunters is real. Since the recession set in last year, demand at Minnesota food shelves has skyrocketed 50 percent. Searle says donations have increased as well, but the demand for food shelf services continues to outpace the supply. Second Harvest Heartland and participating food shelves across the state are strongly encouraging hunters to participate this year in the venison donation program.
According to the DNR, in order to donate a deer, hunters must adhere to the following guidelines:
• Only whole carcasses with the hide on can be donated; processors will not accept cut and wrapped meat or portions of carcasses
• Information such as permit area of harvest and the DNR number will be collected for tracking purposes
• Processors can only accept carcasses for donation that are free from signs of illness, free of visible decomposition or contamination, and properly identified with a Minnesota DNR registration tag
• Processors will reject deer for the donation program that appear to have been mishandled in any way
More information about the venison donation program, as well as a list of participating meat processors, is available on the DNR website at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/deer/donation/index.html. Hunters can also donate $1, $3, or $5 to the program at a DNR license vendor this fall.
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