MDC asks deer hunters to Share the Harvest and follow CWD regulations
IN NEWS FROM JEFFERSON CITY, – Missouri’s
deer season opened with archery hunting on Sept. 15 and runs through the close
of archery season on Jan. 15 with firearms portions during this time.
MDC/ MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION encourages deer hunters to share their
harvests by donating surplus venison to the Share the Harvest program to help
feed hungry Missourians. The donated deer meat goes to local food banks and
food pantries to help feed hungry Missourians all around the state. To get
Share the Harvest venison, contact local food banks or food pantries.
Donating is easy. Simply take harvested deer to an approved meat
processor and let the processor know how much venison to donate.
Meat-processing fees are covered entirely or in part by numerous local
sponsors, along with statewide sponsors.
The program is administered by the Conservation Federation of
Missouri and MDC and has provided nearly 5 million pounds of lean, healthy
venison to help feed hungry Missourians since it was started in 1992.
The National Institutes of Health state that children need
protein in their diets for proper growth and development, and adults need it to
maintain good health. Yet many Missourians can't afford or can't get to good
sources of protein. Through Share the Harvest, Missouri hunters can help
provide those in need with high-quality protein in the form of naturally lean,
locally harvested deer meat.
Deer harvested from CWD Management Zone counties may only be
donated to Share the Harvest if they are tested for CWD. Hunters can take their
deer to a processor participating in the Share the Harvest CWD Testing Program
or have their deer sampled at another location prior to donation. Deer harvested
outside of the CWD Management Zone do not need to be tested for donation to
Share the Harvest and may be taken to any Share the Harvest processor.
For more information on Share the Harvest, visit MDC online
at mdc.mo.gov/share.
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