Missouri deer hunters can help feed hungry families by donating meat to food banks | KCUR

Food prices are rising, but a long-standing Missouri Department of Conservation program aims to ease that burden with the help of hunters.

The department’s Share the Harvest program works with deer hunters and meat processors across the state to distribute venison to food banks and food pantries. Dan Zarlenga, the department’s regional media specialist in St. Louis, said deer hunters often have more meat than they know what to do with.

“They can donate the excess meat they don’t use to feed people who are less fortunate,” Zarlenga said. “This is a particularly helpful thing given the economic conditions we have now where food prices are extremely high.”

Deer hunters take their deer to a participating meat processor where they are cleaned, ground, packaged and then sent to food banks and pantries. Typically, processing a deer costs $100. The Share the Harvest program has reduced these costs with the help of partners. The Conservation Federation of Missouri donated $75 for each hunter to meat processors to offset costs.

“If they donate all of their deer, they don’t have to pay the full amount for it,” Zarlenga said. “In the St. Louis area, we take it a step further. We have an excellent partnership with Operation Food Search. They work with several select processors in the area and donate an additional $30 to offset the costs. So when hunters take in their deer to donate to one of these select processors, their entire processing fee is essentially waived.”

Since the program began in 1992, approximately 4.3 million pounds of venison have been donated. During the 2023-24 deer hunting season, 247,575 pounds of venison were donated to the Share the Harvest program.

Michael Kolisch, owner of John’s Butcher Shoppee in Overland and Festus, said his company has been involved in the program since its inception. He added that the program is a win-win for everyone.

“A hunter can have fun and enjoy his sport,” Kolisch said. “He can get a deer and bring it to us. It doesn’t cost him anything. And on the other hand, there are food banks that are happy to provide food for people in need.”

The program has also been a huge benefit to food banks and pantries, which typically receive large quantities of non-perishable items.

“They don’t get a lot of fresh protein and meat,” Zarlenga said. “It’s kind of a blessing in terms of fresh protein and meat for these places at this time of year. And then they can offer that to their customers.”

The Department of Conservation has one full list of participating meat processors in the state.

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