OHIO — Hunters are being asked to consider harvesting an extra deer to help Ohio families through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Field to Food Bank program.
White-tailed deer season is underway, and deer donations are being accepted throughout the season.
“The Field to Food Bank program helps manage Ohio’s white-tailed deer populations and address food insecurity in our state at the same time,” ODNR said in a news release.
First launched last October, the program saw 182 deer donated, amounting to 36,400 venison servings.
Field-dressed deer can be dropped off at designated locations for Division of Wildlife staff to then transport to the Ohio Penal Industries’ meat processing facility at Pickaway Correctional Institution for processing and packaging. ODNR works with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks to coordinate distribution.
Donation periods and associated locations include:
Oct. 10 and Oct. 11 from noon to 8 p.m. at:
Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, 19100 County Highway 115, Harpster 43323 (Wyandot County)
Delaware Wildlife Area Shooting Range, 1110 State Route 229, Delaware 43003 (Delaware County)
Hog Creek Game Club, 11851 Stemple Rd, Ada 45810 (Allen County)
Nov. 30, Dec. 1, Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 from noon to 8 p.m. at
Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, 19100 County Highway 115, Harpster 43323 (Wyandot County)
Delaware Wildlife Area Shooting Range, 1110 State Route 229, Delaware 43003 (Delaware County)
Hog Creek Game Club, 11851 Stemple Rd, Ada 45810 (Allen County)
Hardin County Fairgrounds, 14134 Letson Ave, Kenton 43326 (Hardin County)
Hebron Fish Hatchery, 10517 Canal Rd SE, Hebron 43025 (Licking County)
Knox County SWCD Office, 160 Columbus Rd, Mount Vernon 43050 (Knox County)
Ross County Fairgrounds, 344 Fairgrounds Rd, Chillicothe 45601 (Ross County)
Dec. 19 and Dec. 20 from noon to 8 p.m. at:
Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, 19100 County Highway 115, Harpster 43323 (Wyandot County)
Delaware Wildlife Area Shooting Range, 1110 State Route 229, Delaware 43003 (Delaware County)
Hog Creek Game Club, 11851 Stemple Rd, Ada 45810 (Allen County)
Hardin County Fairgrounds, 14134 Letson Ave, Kenton 43326 (Hardin County)
Hebron Fish Hatchery, 10517 Canal Rd SE, Hebron 43025 (Licking County)
Knox County SWCD Office, 160 Columbus Rd, Mount Vernon 43050 (Knox County)
Ross County Fairgrounds, 344 Fairgrounds Rd, Chillicothe 45601 (Ross County)
Donated deer must be whole, field-dressed and properly tagged and game-checked. Hunters must have a license and deer permit before hunting, unless exempted.
ODNR said donated deer count toward county and statewide bag limits.
For more information on the program, or how to donate, click here.
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