Record number of hunter-donated deer used to help neighbors experiencing hunger

FRANKFORT — Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry posted its highest-ever totals in 2023 with its ongoing efforts to fight hunger by facilitating the processing, packaging and delivery of healthful ground venison meat.

Kentucky hunters donated more than 3,000 legally harvested deer to the program last fall, yielding 116,764 pounds of venison — and, in turn, 467,000 servings — to be used in food banks and shelters across the state during the following year.

Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry takes cash donations throughout the year, and deer donated by hunters each fall to supply protein to thousands of less fortunate Kentuckians. Through the program, participating deer processors across the state receive deer brought in by hunters during the fall hunting season, then process and freeze venison burger packages suitable for transport and cooking. Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry uses cash donations to pay the costs of deer processing.

“We’re so excited about the continuous growth in this program, through which thousands of hunters help their neighbors in need all around the state,” said Roger LaPointe, executive director of Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry.

In recent years, Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry has also worked with selected deer processors to produce and supply packaged venison meat sticks for use in school backpack programs, which send food home with students who are at risk for hunger. In 2023, the organization supplied about 60,000 meat stick snacks to schools in several counties to help ensure children receive enough protein for healthy growth and function.

“We’d love to be able to provide the popular venison meat sticks to more schools and students in need, but this requires more sponsors to help underwrite the cost,” LaPointe said. He welcomes prospective businesses to contact him about how they can help support the meat stick snacks program in their local school districts.

“We’re very thankful for Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry, its cash donors and all the deer processors who make it work,” said Rich Storm, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “We’re especially proud of the hunters who help to manage Kentucky’s deer herd by harvesting and donating extra deer beyond what they need to Hunters for the Hungry each year.”

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife joins other concerned organizations and individuals who contribute funds to the organization every year. The agency has also obtained outside grant funding to help multiply the dollars donated by other organizations and individuals; this will enable even more deer to be processed and further increase the amount of high-quality protein served up through the program. However, a limiting factor in the capacity of Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry to process deer and supply venison products is cash donations.

Those interested in donating much-needed cash to help cover the increasing costs of deer processing should visit the Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry website and click on the “DONATE FUNDING” button. Hunters considering donating deer can likewise find instructions and a list of approved processors on the organization’s homepage.