deer/venison donation program ?

[azsearch]

What exactly is the venison donation program. I over heard some people talking about it in a store and how it was a waste? Could it really be that bad?

I was thinking that some people like to hunt, but maybe don't like venison.

So, they go out and hunt, shoot a doe, and donate it.

Sounds ok to me

[NWBuck]

Not exactly where you're talking about, but here in Iowa it's called the HUSH program, which stands for Help Us Stop Hunger. Hunters all pay an extra dollar each when they buy their deer tags. This pot of money is used to pay participating lockers a processing fee when someone donates a deer. The locker then takes the donated deer and grinds it all into burger to be used at area food shelters. Nothing at all wrong with the program, and it's been a great success.

[vister]

i think the donation program is kind of a line of hooey! its a great thing for the less fortunate, but i also believe its a way for SOME hunters to pawn off the extra deer they shot in a deer drive or something, and they don't have the room for it in the freezer. just like any other license, i think you should have to buy a 50 dollar license in advance to the hunting season that is striclty for the venison donation program. then its something you plan on doing, not a plan "B" pill! the 50 bucks would go towards the processing, instead of having other organizations and tax payers having to pick up the tab!

its fine for someone to go fishing if they dont like the taste of fish, because you can release a fish. but until the donation program came around, what did people do with venison if they didn't like the taste of it after they shoot a deer or two?

[jeffreyd]

The one that I am involved with through the deer assoc here in az is farmers hunters feeding the hungry. It is a national group and does great work. however if you have left over meat, you can always take it to the food bank. my thought goes kind of to an old saying, take a boy fishing he will eat for a day, teach him to fish, he will eat for a lifetime. i appreciate the situations that people are in however i think that too many have found the loop hole to take advantage. just my thoughts, not pointed at anyone personally, just a general statement.

[harvey lee]

I believe the program is great. It helps out many in need. Yes, a few take advantage but thats with almost all programs.

I'm all for helping out the needy if if it costs me a few bucks for it, so be it.

I do not eat all the deer I shoot but enjoy hunting them. I give many away to those who cannot or don't care to hunt but enjoy the meat.

I really do not believe this program has any effect on how hunters hunt or what they shoot at all. If they are going to whack an extra, they will do it anyways and at least this way, its put to good use. They still need a license for the deer they shoot and who are we to tell them what they can or cannot do as long as they are within the laws.

[flipper]

The year before last they threw all the meat away that was donated because of fear there was lead in a small percentage of it. Although there is not one documented case of anyone even getting ill from ingesting lead in meat the dnr saw fit to throw all the meat away. I will never donate a deer to them again.

Art

[jeffreyd]

if lead is a concern then why not use non lead ammo? just a thought, it is a rule up north in az where the condor fly. calif is considering if they have not already done so as on ammo that can be used

[vister]

if lead is/was an issue, in any sort of wildgame, then why have there been ZERO restrictions to anglers using lead head jigs, split shot, and even lead core line. its probably better the DNR threw out meat because of the lead scare. How bad would it look if the needy got ill, and died from venison that was donated to them containing lead?

anyways, i still believe that if you want to donate a deer, you should also have to help cover processing fees! the money spent on processing donated deer would much better benefit the needy, than being given a dead deer. Just my thoughts!

[harvey lee]

I have eaten many deer and never had any issue with the lead. A big push by some company to make a few bucks.

As far as I'm concerned it all baloney.

If I have a shot up deer with questionable meat, I just don't use that area.

[deerminator]

I agree with Harvey on the lead issue. It's a bunch of hooey. Yes, you are going to be exposed to some lead but how much and how much does it take to effect you over how many years? My guess is a lot over a long time. In fact, I believe some reputable group did a quick study and found less lead levels in the blood of North Dakota gun deer hunters than those who didn't hunt. Weird, huh? : )

Anyway, the venison donation program is nice, but just that. I've volunteered at Second Harvest and they claim they can get $9 to every $1 you give them in food for people. So I'd rather give them the $14 I'd have spent on the bonus tag and let them provide $126 worth of groceries to some needy family that might not care for venison.

[Big Buck Buster]

The "lead" reason for not excepting the deer is a bunch of bull!!

A bullet of lead is not even close to being enough to cause any harm. Besides, bullets have a lot of tin content in them, and are not just lead.

I make scuba weights from lead, and am exposed to it more than 100 deer shot with a bullet.

I have gotten tested, and the test came back as elevated, but not lethal. I just have to keep up with the fish oil tablets, and keep the respirator, and coveralls separate from the house, and the family.

[USPENAMC]

Here is my take,

I myself love hunting, love the outdoors and love the challenge of hunting. I also would love to have a piece of venison around for me to eat. I have had years where we havent been succesfull If anyone wishes to share at the end of the seaons. Granted if i havent shot anything with either bow or rifle I would surely appreciate some of your DONATION.... If i pay for my license pay for all my scents, stands, gas and all that other stuff and am unsuccessfull I would surely like to talk to someone that has some extra meat in the freezer I will post back on december 31st if i am not succesfull.

thanks,

david

[koonie]

You shoot it. You want to donate it. You pay for it. No reason for anyone else to pay for it. You should be responsible for what you shoot. If I want to donate a case of soup to the food shelf nobody offers to pay for it.

As long as it's a voluntary donation I'm fine with it. I would also like to know what happens to any extra money. I doubt there is much if any now. If it's ever automatically added on to our license cost then I could see issues.

[azsearch]

I looked the program up online, It said that the Nonresident license fees were increased by 5 dollars and a 1 dollar increase to the bonus tags to reach the $160,000 they need. I think that they should have just jacked up the nonresident fee more. Bring it up by $20 to make it comparable to Wisconsin ($160 for NR).

10,832 nonresident firearm license sold times $20 dollar increase $216,640 to allocate to the program

[fishmon]

i still believe that if you want to donate a deer, you should also have to help cover processing fees! the money spent on processing donated deer would much better benefit the needy, than being given a dead deer. Just my thoughts!

Well said vister last year here in WI I saw a lot of people killing does and donating them just to get the earn a buck tag if you or someone you know won't eat it don't kill it.