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Share the Harvest changes make venison donation easier
MDC
11/1/02
Hunters will find it easier than ever to donate venison to needy Missourians, thanks to a unique partnership between government and private conservation groups.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Missourians who have taken part in Share the Harvest in the past will be glad to learn that the venison-donation program is simpler and less expensive this year. Those who haven't participated before might want to consider doing so to get in on drawings for thousands of dollars worth of prizes.
Share the Harvest began in 1991 as the Charitable Deer Meat Donation Program. The Columbia Area Archers devised the program to allow their members to donate venison to a local food bank.
The program's initial success drew the attention of the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Conservation Federation of Missouri, the state's largest citizen conservation group. Together, they expanded the program to include archery and firearms deer hunters statewide and renamed it Share the Harvest.
Last year alone, 1,623 hunters donated more than 38 tons of venison to the needy through Share the Harvest. In 1998, Shelter Insurance Companies joined the effort, putting up cash to help pay for processing deer that hunters donated to the program. Shelter continues to subsidize the program in this way.
This year, the original three partners, along with Bass Pro Shops and the University of Missouri-Columbia Greek Week, have revamped the program to make Share the Harvest participation more attractive than ever. For one thing, the hunters who donate at least one whole deer through Share the Harvest automatically will be entered in a drawing for outdoor merchandise donated by Bass Pro Shops. Items to be given away include a Winchester 150XL muzzle-loading rifle, a $500 shopping spree, a locking aluminum double gun case and dozens of other prizes. The close-of-season celebration drawing will be held after the close of archery deer season.
Another new feature is an increase in the amount hunters will be reimbursed for meat processing. Hunters who donate whole deer this year can get a coupon for a $25 rebate, up from $20 last year. In the past, reimbursements have come from Shelter Insurance. This year, the Conservation Federation will administer the reimbursements.
"It's hard to imagine a program with more benefits than this one," said Bob White, Protection Field Chief for the Conservation Department. Share the Harvest lets hunters help people in need. It's a ready-made service project for civic clubs, and it gives businesses a chance to show their civic-mindedness."
White said Share the Harvest means added business and positive feedback for participating meat processors, too.
Under Share the Harvest, hunters who want to donate venison take their deer to approved processing plants and tell the processors how much venison they want to donate. Processors package and store the meat for pickup by sponsoring groups, which deliver the venison to local food banks or other organizations for distribution to the needy.
Participating processors give hunters who donate whole deer a $25 rebate coupon. Hunters send their coupons to the Conservation Federation and receive their refund check in the mail.
Although Share the Harvest is a statewide program, it is organized and operated at the local level by civic clubs or sporting groups. The first step in setting up a Share the Harvest program is to find at least one deer processor and one charitable agency to participate in the program.
The organizing group then contacts the local conservation agent. The agent provides information and advice and ensures that both the packing house and charitable organization are reliable.
To learn if your area has a Share the Harvest program, or to create one, contact the nearest Conservation Department regional office.
To ensure that donated meat is safe, all participating processors must be subject to inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hunters interested in donating venison should check first with the packing house they use. If their regular processor is not participating in Share the Harvest, a conservation agent may be able to direct them to a processor that does participate.
Hunters don't need Share the Harvest to donate meat directly to friends or acquaintances. The Missouri Wildlife Code allows hunters to give legally taken wildlife to another person. The carcass or meat must be labeled with the full name, address and permit number of the taker. The label also must tell the species of animal and the date it was taken. The gift must be included in the recipient's possession limit.
Only the taker is allowed to give away wild meat under this provision. It does not allow processors to distribute meat donated by a hunter.
- Jim Low
MDC
11/1/02
Hunters will find it easier than ever to donate venison to needy Missourians, thanks to a unique partnership between government and private conservation groups.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Missourians who have taken part in Share the Harvest in the past will be glad to learn that the venison-donation program is simpler and less expensive this year. Those who haven't participated before might want to consider doing so to get in on drawings for thousands of dollars worth of prizes.
Share the Harvest began in 1991 as the Charitable Deer Meat Donation Program. The Columbia Area Archers devised the program to allow their members to donate venison to a local food bank.
The program's initial success drew the attention of the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Conservation Federation of Missouri, the state's largest citizen conservation group. Together, they expanded the program to include archery and firearms deer hunters statewide and renamed it Share the Harvest.
Last year alone, 1,623 hunters donated more than 38 tons of venison to the needy through Share the Harvest. In 1998, Shelter Insurance Companies joined the effort, putting up cash to help pay for processing deer that hunters donated to the program. Shelter continues to subsidize the program in this way.
This year, the original three partners, along with Bass Pro Shops and the University of Missouri-Columbia Greek Week, have revamped the program to make Share the Harvest participation more attractive than ever. For one thing, the hunters who donate at least one whole deer through Share the Harvest automatically will be entered in a drawing for outdoor merchandise donated by Bass Pro Shops. Items to be given away include a Winchester 150XL muzzle-loading rifle, a $500 shopping spree, a locking aluminum double gun case and dozens of other prizes. The close-of-season celebration drawing will be held after the close of archery deer season.
Another new feature is an increase in the amount hunters will be reimbursed for meat processing. Hunters who donate whole deer this year can get a coupon for a $25 rebate, up from $20 last year. In the past, reimbursements have come from Shelter Insurance. This year, the Conservation Federation will administer the reimbursements.
"It's hard to imagine a program with more benefits than this one," said Bob White, Protection Field Chief for the Conservation Department. Share the Harvest lets hunters help people in need. It's a ready-made service project for civic clubs, and it gives businesses a chance to show their civic-mindedness."
White said Share the Harvest means added business and positive feedback for participating meat processors, too.
Under Share the Harvest, hunters who want to donate venison take their deer to approved processing plants and tell the processors how much venison they want to donate. Processors package and store the meat for pickup by sponsoring groups, which deliver the venison to local food banks or other organizations for distribution to the needy.
Participating processors give hunters who donate whole deer a $25 rebate coupon. Hunters send their coupons to the Conservation Federation and receive their refund check in the mail.
Although Share the Harvest is a statewide program, it is organized and operated at the local level by civic clubs or sporting groups. The first step in setting up a Share the Harvest program is to find at least one deer processor and one charitable agency to participate in the program.
The organizing group then contacts the local conservation agent. The agent provides information and advice and ensures that both the packing house and charitable organization are reliable.
To learn if your area has a Share the Harvest program, or to create one, contact the nearest Conservation Department regional office.
To ensure that donated meat is safe, all participating processors must be subject to inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hunters interested in donating venison should check first with the packing house they use. If their regular processor is not participating in Share the Harvest, a conservation agent may be able to direct them to a processor that does participate.
Hunters don't need Share the Harvest to donate meat directly to friends or acquaintances. The Missouri Wildlife Code allows hunters to give legally taken wildlife to another person. The carcass or meat must be labeled with the full name, address and permit number of the taker. The label also must tell the species of animal and the date it was taken. The gift must be included in the recipient's possession limit.
Only the taker is allowed to give away wild meat under this provision. It does not allow processors to distribute meat donated by a hunter.
- Jim Low
