NEW YORK (WBNG) — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is asking hunters to take part in an annual project that helps feed those in need.
With nearly 3 million New Yorkers potentially losing federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, assistance, DEC is encouraging hunters to donate their deer harvests.
Each year, DEC partners with Feeding New York State to facilitate the donation of 50,000 – 70,000 pounds of venison from their hunts this year.
Jeremy Hurst from the DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife said the donation program has been going on for decades, but is especially encouraged this year.
“We’re encouraging it now because we have deer management needs. We have a lot of deer in the state. We have a lot of need for hunters to harvest those deer. And we encourage hunters to take more deer than they personally need so that they can donate the rest,” said Hurst.
Hurst recommends donating deer that have been shot with archery equipment or non-lead ammunition to ensure the meat is as safe and clean as possible.
DEC and Feeding New York State will cover the processing fees for donated deer so that the meat can be distributed to food pantries and food banks throughout the state; however, officials said funding is limited. Monetary donations can be made through the DEC’s website.
DEC and Feeding New York State will cover the processing fees in an effort to make the donation process quick and easy.
“So the benefit for hunters is that if they harvested a deer more than what they need for their own family and friends, they can take that deer to a cooperating processor. And these organizations, the Venison Donation Coalition and Feeding New York State, will provide resources, financial resources to the processor to cover that processing cost. The hunter just drops the deer off,” said Hurst.
For more information and donation guidelines, visit DEC’s website.
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