Donating deer meat

[TomBow]

I have been researching deer donation in Minnesota. Do any of you have info on processors that are directly linked to food shelfs or organizations that feed the hungry? What I am looking for is a processor that will contact the food shelf and get the deer picked up directly? I have a list of food shelfs.
Let me know if you've donated a deer and the details.
Thanks and Best of Luck!

[CrankinEyes]

Mark's meat in Circle Pines.
They will charge you for processing.
They cut up more deer than anyone in the state and will only take a few donations and then they charge you for it. Go figure.
Or go to the MN deerhunters assoc. web site.

[TomBow]

I have checked with the DNR and been on the MN Deer hunter's HSOforum. The hunter is responsible for the processing fee and most food shelfs will only take deer processed by a USDA licensed meat processor (commercial processors only, in other words).

Thanks for this info.

[paceman]

There was a story in the paper the other day stating that Lakes Processing here in Detroit Lakes will take deer and grind them up and give the meat to the local food pantry. The cost is 25 bucks. I will call them and verify.

[bigbucks]

I've donated lots of deer to people. I just hunt down my own donors. It took a while, but I've got places I can give away probably 3-5 deer a year. It seems like I picked up a few people once someone heard that I'd be willing to give some of mine to people. I just call them & tell them I've got a deer for them & find out where & when to meet them, than they deal with butchering or paying for processing, whatever. It would be nice if there was a program like some other states have, but as far as I know there aren't any.

[BLACKJACK]

Tombow, thats a good question! I know Wisconsin has a program, but I don't know who pays for it. A person can only eat so many deer, I've started being more creative and making my burger into breakfast sausage and jerky, I've started slicing the other cuts for jerky but after two or three deer, I don't want anymore.

What its going to take is some funding that would pay processing plants to take deer and package them for the food shelves. Then you and I and lots of hunters would shoot extra deer but I'll be darned if I'm going to pay the processing and then give it away!
And if we have several more mild winters, the deer population could really explode.

[Dan Thiem]

Couldn't a bunch of hunters just get together to butcher and grind and wrap? Then donate the meat? I suppose it has to be inspected.

[89Bronco]

You are correct, Dan. I believe it has to come from a processor that's been inspected (which makes sense.) I would be more than happy to chop, grind, slice and dice my own and give it to a food shelf, but they won't take it from just you or me.
And I feel just like the other post...if I'm paying $50, $60 or more to have it butchered and then give it all away, well, I'd rather keep it after going through that. I can always go down and write a check directly to the food shelf for $50.

[This message has been edited by 89Bronco (edited 10-08-2004).]