With Michigan’s firearm deer season drawing near and bow season underway, the DNR encourages hunters to help feed hungry families by donating deer to Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger. Since 1991, this all-volunteer, nonprofit organization has worked to connect donors, wild game processors and charities like food banks, pantries and shelters that help feed those in need.
Michigan hunters donated enough deer last year to produce over 50,000 pounds of ground venison, providing more than 200,000 meals.
“This is great, but we know we can do better,” said Dean Hall, Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger executive officer.
To help boost participation, MSAH is partnering for the second year with the DNR and Jay’s Sporting Goods to offer a special opportunity for hunters to donate deer taken in the first few days of the firearm season to local food banks.
Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger will have a truck at the Jay’s location in Clare (8880 S. Clare Ave.) Saturday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 17, from noon to 4 p.m. Hunters who donate a legally taken deer during the event will have their names entered for a chance to win a $500 Jay’s Sporting goods gift certificate.
Deer donated at the Jay’s event will be processed at Carson Village Market in Carson City.
“Last year we received donations of 25 deer, which provided nearly 1,000 pounds of ground venison that was distributed to local food banks,” Hall said. “It shows we can have a big impact working together.”
Hunters who can’t make it to the Jay’s event will have another opportunity to donate a deer and enter a prize drawing. MSAH will hold a separate drawing for a chance to win a wild boar hunt or one of several other prizes, open to any hunter who donates a deer at one of the many participating processors throughout the state.
Learn more about the drawings, find participating processors or make a monetary donation to support venison processing at SportsmenAgainstHunger.org.
Hunters also can make a monetary donation when buying hunting licenses.
For more information, contact Ray Rustem at 517-420-0005.
