Missouri Hunters Donate Nearly 350,000 Pounds Of Deer Meat To Food Banks

Missouri deer hunters have donated nearly 348,535 pounds of venison to food banks and pantries across their state this season.

The hunters donated the meat to Missouri's Share the Harvest program, which provides "lean, healthy" venison to help feed hungry Missourians.

The program, coordinated by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Conservation Federation of Missouri, was launched in 1992. Since then, more than 4.3 million pounds of meat has been packaged and donated to people in need.

"Hunters started Share the Harvest because they saw a need in their communities and hunters remain the driving force behind this popular program that helps feed our fellow Missourians who are in need," MDC director Sara Parker Pauley said in a statement.

"We greatly appreciate the hunters, processors, and sponsors for their support of Share the Harvest," CFM executive director Tyler Schwartze said in the news release. "The donated venison stays in the local areas where the deer were harvested so it truly is helping out neighbors in need."