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State Representative John Ward
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4333
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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HUNTING TO FIGHT HUNGER
ST. PAUL, MN - A bill passed by the legislature two years ago began a statewide venison donation program in Minnesota. The program, run by the Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, allows Minnesota hunters to donate venison to participating meat processors at no cost to the hunters. The meat is processed and distributed to hungry Minnesota families in need.
As deer season opens this weekend, State Reps. Al Doty (DFL - Royalton) and John Ward (DFL - Brainerd) are encouraging local hunters to participate in the program this year.
“Our community has always had a strong hunting tradition," said Rep. Ward. “We also have a strong tradition of giving, and helping each other out when times are tough. The venison donation program is a great way for hunters in our area to do both.”
“There has never been a more important time to donate to our local food shelves - and the venison donation program is just one more great way to put nutritious meals in the hands of hungry families,” said Rep. Doty.
According to Second Harvest Heartland’s Newell Searle, demand at Minnesota food shelves has skyrocketed 50 percent since the recession set in last year. 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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