Originally Posted by Oldtimr

mrbb, this is the procedure butchers must go through before they can dispose of anyone's venison that has not been picked up:


§ 147.143. Transfer of lawful possession of abandoned venison.

(a) Definition.

Abandoned venison—Venison which remains unclaimed by the lawful owner at a butcher shop for longer than 10 days after the lawful owner has been notified by the butcher or an employe that the venison is dressed and ready to be picked up.

(b) Procedure for transfer of lawful possession of abandoned venison.

(1) Lawful possession of abandoned venison may be transferred to any resident of this Commonwealth who is in possession of a valid permit to possess deer (PGC-90-LE) provided that:

(i) Prior to a transfer of possession of abandoned venison the butcher or an employe has notified the lawful owner of the venison in the butcher shop by United States registered mail to the person’s last known address of the intent to dispose of the venison.

(ii) The notification gives the lawful owner of the venison 30 days to claim the venison and pay to the butcher the standard labor fee for preparing the venison for consumption.

(2) After the 30-day period has expired, the butcher may transfer the lawful possession of abandoned venison to a resident of this Commonwealth who presents a valid permit to possess deer (PGC-90-LE) and if required by the butcher pays the standard labor fee for preparing the venison for consumption.

(3) The butcher shall, within 24 hours of transferring possession of abandoned venison, send by United States mail a report setting forth the date of transfer and the name, address and telephone number of the person or organization that received the venison to the wildlife conservation officer in charge of the district where the butcher shop is located.



§ 147.144. Transfer of lawful possession of abandoned venison to food banks.

Lawful possession of abandoned venison may be transferred to a food bank by a butcher after proper notification to the lawful owner of the venison as set forth in § 147.143(b) (relating to transfer of lawful possession of abandoned venison). Food banks or persons who receive venison from a food bank are not required to possess a permit to possess deer (PGC-90-LE), however, the report to the wildlife conservation officer as set forth in § 147.143(b) shall be made.