State officials are reminding hunters how they can help those in need this fall.
DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife is making hunters aware of the Sportsmen Against Hunger program.
It allows hunters to donate deer meat at butcher shops and self-serve coolers in all three counties.
Fish and Wildlife Regional Manager Bill Jones says the deer meat, which is processed free of charge to the hunter, is then donated statewide.
"It's a program where hunters can donate deer either at statewide drop-off coolers or through some participating butchers, the deer are processed into venison burgers and then it is distributed to about three dozen churches and charities statewide," said Jones.
Hunters donating at the self-serve, walk-in coolers are asked to call the number on the cooler so the deer can be transported for process in a timely manner. The coolers are available 24-7 to hunters.
Jones says the program has been up and running since 1992 - and is successful.
"We have a figure of probably over two million meals that have been donated, and that's assuming about four meals out of a pound of venison," said Jones.
Jones adds the program gets bipartisan financial support from the General Assembly every year. It’s also popular with hunters and the charities involved.
Butcher Shops participating in Sportsmen Against Hunger:
New Castle County
- Townsend Deer Butchering: 1300 Dexter Corner Road, Townsend, DE 19734 -- (302) 378-3268
Kent County
- Miller’s Butcher Shop: 577 Morgans Choice Road, Wyoming, DE 19934 -- (302) 697-8278
- D&J Custom Cutting: 89 Meyers Drive, Hartley, DE 19953 -- (302) 492-0323
Sussex County
- Dave’s Cut ‘Em Up: 6854 Delmar Road, Delmar, DE 19940 -- (302) 381-7257
Walk-in cooler locations:
- Augustine Wildlife Area (New Castle County) 303 N. Congress Street, Port Penn, DE 19731
- Little Creek Wildlife Area (Kent County) 3018 Bayside Drive, Dover, DE 19901
- Norman G. Wilder (Kent County) 782 Kersey Road, Viola, DE 19979
- Fish & Wildlife's Milford Mosquito Control Office (Kent County) 1161 Airport Road, Milford, DE 19963
- Redden State Forest (Sussex County) 18074 Redden Forest Dr., Georgetown, DE 19947
- Assawoman Wildlife Area (Sussex County) 37604 Mulberry Landing Road, Frankford, DE 19945
- Trap Pond State Park (Sussex County) 33587 Baldcypress Lane, Laurel, DE 19956
- Gumboro Community Center (Sussex County) 36849 Millsboro Highway, Millsboro, DE 19966