Hunters making a difference for the hungry
Every year thousands of hungry Oklahomans reap the benefits of
deer season in Oklahoma through the Hunters Against Hunger program.
Through the program, hunters who legally harvest a deer during
any of this year's deer seasons can donate the meat to feed hungry
Oklahomans. All they have to do is deliver their harvested deer to the
nearest participating meat processor after checking the deer at a hunter
check station. To view a list of participating meat processors, log on to
the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Web site at
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/hah.htm.
To help with processing charges, each donator is requested to
contribute a tax-deductable $10 to assist with the program.
The ground venison is then distributed to the needy through a
network of qualified, charitable organizations. During the 2007-08 season,
hunters donated 39,765 pounds of venison that provided almost 160,000 meals
to needy people.
Participation by meat processors and hunters is the key to
success to helping feed Oklahoma's hungry. The Wildlife Department pays a
special thanks to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Community Food
Bank of eastern Oklahoma for their participation in the Hunters Against
Hunger program. Important donors to this program also include Tulsa-based
conservation group NatureWorks, and the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari
Club International. To learn more about NatureWorks, log on to
natureworks.org. To learn more about the Oklahoma Station Chapter of SCI,
log on to oklahomastationsci.org.
To become more involved in the Hunters Against Hunger program,
contact the Wildlife Department at (405) 522-6279.
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