I am curious how many of us have participated in this program, and how many deer you've "donated"? I have donated in quotes because most participating butchers require a cash donation.Do any of us use this program so we can keep taking deer?

Some public land I hunt here in MD we run a fhfh program where we cut up and donate the meat to local food banks and other places . I kill 15+ deer a year and I donate more then half since I know they are going to a good cause . We gave out over 2000 pounds for deer last season . It is good to know that some needy people can be helped by doing things like FHFH .

I would have to "guess" somewhere around 25 so far. That is in a few different states.

In Illinois, at least at the location I take them to.....there is no donation.

You must pay in full to have the deer processed in order to "donate" it.[]

My IL buck last year cost me $110.00 just to give it away!!

I really don`t mind though, because it goes to someone who really needs it. (at least I hope it does)

And I shoot more deer than my family can eat in a year.

We don't have a program of the sort to my knowledge around here. Usually I can only shoot one deer, 2 at tops being the zone I hunt doesn't give many extra tags out. With that being said I probably wouldn't donate any being thats the reason I hunt also being I like eating venison, it saves on not having to by beef. Its a great program though.

I have probably donated at least ten deer over the years to Hunters for the Hungry in Virginia. Some years I donated 2-3. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to donate because many of the butchers participating in the program get bombarded with deer and do not have the freezer space, and in fact can only process so many deer without losing money for themselves in the process. It is a good program and in Virginia, nearly a million pounds of venison is donated annually to the poor/hungry. I pay an extra $2 on my license fees to support the program and will continue to do so.

Brett

I don't know of place to donate around here--Would like to find one though,i don't hunt wed. afternoons because I go to church,(not gonna miss to skin an cut up a deer)But if there was a place to donate the Wed. kills it might be a win-win situation!!--need to check in to it more.

We used to have a FHFH processor but they ran into issues with the FHFH group here picking up the donated meat from what I was told. I have a few processors in my area that take deer for the Illinois Sportman Against Hunger program which covers the first 50.00 of the processing costs if I remember correctly. I plan on donating a few deer this year.

I have never donated to Sportsman Against Hunger here in Illinois, but every year I give a deer to a local family here in my area that really needs it. They are super nice people and would help anybody however they could, but they don't have anything.

Donated 2 does last year.

Didnt cost me a penny.

In NY they grind the whole deer.
Lots sits in some of the food banks.
I give a couple whole deer to people every year that I personally know will utilize it.

Steve