DODGEVILLE - The 2008 deer bow season is nearly upon us, and hunters are looking ahead scouting, honing their skills, and double checking equipment to make sure everything is ready. There are other individuals who have a vested interest in the upcoming season as well. These include area butchers, food pantries, and Community Action Programs (CAP's). These groups are reminding hunters that there will be a place for them to donate their extra deer this fall.
"Hunters will be able to drop off their deer at participating meat processors as well as at Department of Natural Resources operated registration stations where Target Hunger volunteers will be present," noted Don Bates, chronic wasting disease (CWD) operations chief based at Dodgeville.
Last year, multiple CAP agencies, food pantries, and local meat processors in southern Wisconsin teamed to operate a deer donation program in the CWD Management Zone after a loss in state funds meant the DNR could no longer underwrite the program. Thanks to that partnership with hunters, nearly 700 deer were donated, tested, processed and distributed to food pantries.
Continuing on last year's success, the group has formed "Target Hunger," a nonprofit aimed to make it easy for generous hunters and other community supporters to share the costs of running a deer donation program during the upcoming deer seasons.
After the increased demand for venison this summer, Target Hunger's goal for the 2008 deer donation program is to have 2000 deer donated.
Walter Orzechowski, executive director of Southwest Wisconsin Community Action, Inc. of Dodgeville, and a member of Target Hunger, noted that people really enjoy the ground venison available from food pantries and have asked if more might be available.
During the past year, members of Target Hunger have been busy raising funds to cover program costs and more will probably be needed.
All money donated by community members can be claimed as charitable tax deductions and DNR will fully cover all costs associated with testing the venison for CWD.
Hunters can visit http://www.swcap.org/service-venisondonation.html for a list of station locations.
For details on how you can help through financial contributions or venison donations contact Southwest Wisconsin CAP at (608) 935-2326 or Community Action Coalition of Dane County at (608) 246-4730.
"Hunters will be able to drop off their deer at participating meat processors as well as at Department of Natural Resources operated registration stations where Target Hunger volunteers will be present," noted Don Bates, chronic wasting disease (CWD) operations chief based at Dodgeville.
Last year, multiple CAP agencies, food pantries, and local meat processors in southern Wisconsin teamed to operate a deer donation program in the CWD Management Zone after a loss in state funds meant the DNR could no longer underwrite the program. Thanks to that partnership with hunters, nearly 700 deer were donated, tested, processed and distributed to food pantries.
Continuing on last year's success, the group has formed "Target Hunger," a nonprofit aimed to make it easy for generous hunters and other community supporters to share the costs of running a deer donation program during the upcoming deer seasons.
After the increased demand for venison this summer, Target Hunger's goal for the 2008 deer donation program is to have 2000 deer donated.
Walter Orzechowski, executive director of Southwest Wisconsin Community Action, Inc. of Dodgeville, and a member of Target Hunger, noted that people really enjoy the ground venison available from food pantries and have asked if more might be available.
During the past year, members of Target Hunger have been busy raising funds to cover program costs and more will probably be needed.
All money donated by community members can be claimed as charitable tax deductions and DNR will fully cover all costs associated with testing the venison for CWD.
Hunters can visit http://www.swcap.org/service-venisondonation.html for a list of station locations.
For details on how you can help through financial contributions or venison donations contact Southwest Wisconsin CAP at (608) 935-2326 or Community Action Coalition of Dane County at (608) 246-4730.
