Share the Harvest

[opposum]

How many of you have a Share Harvest Program/Hunters feeding the Hungry etc... in your state? If you have one have you ever donated? Missouri has this program and I donate a couple of deer every year. Makes me feel good to know that I'm helping someone out.

[Txbluecatman]

We have hunter's feeding the hungry out here. I have donated at least a deer a year and several hogs to them when I was still hunting Llano. I had'nt donated anything to them this last season since I missed out on a lease. Once we get everything going at the new ranch though it should go back to donating again.

[cats4uandme]

thats a great program. however i am a meat hunter. and the stuff folks donate is what im after. i would be glad to donate the horns. i have yet to find a recipe that calls for em. unless your in china.:smile2:

i know they have them here in illinois. but its a staple for my family and sometimes i dont think we could do without it really.

[lance]

They have a progran here in KY and I think this year it also pays for the processing but not sure bout the processing part .As far as donating I share the wealth with family and less fortunate friends . It is a great program tho. ! I do believe however if you are killing for someone else to eat GREAT ! If your killing to be killing you all that know me ...know how I'd feel about that !

[massa_jorge]

i hunt to feed my family, bottom line. i don't have a lot of money and i kill deer every year. we have a hunters for the hungry program here, but they want you to pay to have it processed when you 'donate' to cover the butcher so he doesn't do it for free. what i never figured out was that i pay my license, ammo, gas, and food to get this deer, and then i'm supposed to pay so some guy doesn't work for free? never really made sense to me... real hunting is work.

[Kutter]

I usually keep one or two for my family, and give the rest, 6-12, to friends and family. I never give any to someone who is capable of getting their own. Lot's of older folks around that appreciate venison. Several family & friends not in physical shape to hunt anymore.
I wouldn't mind participating in the "Share the Harvest" program, if, as said above, I didn't have to pay to have it processed. I'm already paying through the nose to get the deer and transport it halfway across the state, be darned if I'm going to pay to donate. Every year we hear of butchers that will do it for free, but the details are always vague and is of the nature of "Well, a friend of mine has a neighbor, whose brother heard that such & such butcher shop doesn't charge for that". I have tried to follow up on many leads, but all were dead ends. I gave up and just give them away myself.

[switchback]

Like many of you i hunt or food that i need. I do kill deer for friends and family that need it to useally i just ask for them to replace my tag or help with the processing at my home. And jeremy you hit it on the head those horns just dont taste good do they.

[bluejay]

I usually keep one or two for my family, and give the rest, 6-12, to friends and family. I never give any to someone who is capable of getting their own. Lot's of older folks around that appreciate venison. Several family & friends not in physical shape to hunt anymore.
I wouldn't mind participating in the "Share the Harvest" program, if, as said above, I didn't have to pay to have it processed. I'm already paying through the nose to get the deer and transport it halfway across the state, be darned if I'm going to pay to donate. Every year we hear of butchers that will do it for free, but the details are always vague and is of the nature of "Well, a friend of mine has a neighbor, whose brother heard that such & such butcher shop doesn't charge for that". I have tried to follow up on many leads, but all were dead ends. I gave up and just give them away myself.

I have a lot of friends in N Mo. that would give lots of deer to Share the Haarvest if they would cover the processing. Thats a hot subject up that way.

[spoonfish]

My understanding was if you donated the entire deer the processing fees were covered by the state. But after looking it appears some fees may not allways be covered?

Price reduction program for whole-deer donations
The Conservation Federation and its partners will reimburse processors, at an amount set each year, to process a whole deer donated to Share the Harvest. Hunters who donate an entire deer will complete a voucher provided by their processor. The hunter’s bill is automatically reduced by the set amount. At the end of the season, processors will send the vouchers to the Conservation Federation for reimbursement.

Additional funds, which may be available from local sources, can further reduce processing cost. In some instances the entire processing cost may be covered! This is especially true in those areas of high deer density where a reduction in the deer population is warranted. Contact your local processor for more information.


http://mdc.mo.gov/hunt/deer/share/

I think it's a great program but prefer to do all the processing myself.
We just give some to family and friends or others in need.

[Kutter]

Over the last few years, it amounted to $25/30 rebate check from MDC, around March/April. You still had to pay the entire processing fee up front.

[cats4uandme]

ya i believe in il you have to cover processing, from what ive heard, not positive. and i cant afford to have my deer done at a processor. so i wont spring for it to see it go. but sure if a hunter has the cash and just wanted a rack then great. better than seeing a headless carcus in a ditch. im sure you all hunters have seen that. makes me so mad.

[lance]

Have seen it . What is your deer limit or is it diffrent zones?

[Kutter]

In the part of MO that I hunt it's one buck with at least 4 points on one side, and as many does as you can afford the $7 tags for.:wink: Record was 2 years ago from a Columbia, MO man who got 115 if I recall right. He did state that he found good homes for each one.:wink:

[lance]

Awesome on his donations . Here it is 1 buck unless drawn for a quota hunt . Can put in for the Elk hunt LOOONNGG shot to get drawn. and unlimited does in zone 1 .

[CountryHart]

I usually keep one or two for my family, and give the rest, 6-12, to friends and family. I never give any to someone who is capable of getting their own. Lot's of older folks around that appreciate venison. Several family & friends not in physical shape to hunt anymore.
I wouldn't mind participating in the "Share the Harvest" program, if, as said above, I didn't have to pay to have it processed. I'm already paying through the nose to get the deer and transport it halfway across the state, be darned if I'm going to pay to donate. Every year we hear of butchers that will do it for free, but the details are always vague and is of the nature of "Well, a friend of mine has a neighbor, whose brother heard that such & such butcher shop doesn't charge for that". I have tried to follow up on many leads, but all were dead ends. I gave up and just give them away myself.

I'm like Tom and some others here. I keep what i'll use and give the rest to those who can't do for themselves. I always offer meat to the land owners and try to get them to hunt also.

[flathead willie]

We have "hunters for the hungry" here. I donate 2-4 deer a year and also make a monetary donation to help cover the processing costs. The guy I got my license from today asked if I wanted to donate $2 of the license fee to the organization. Of course, I said sure. He told me he had just had a customer a few minutes earlier that "went off" when he was asked to donate. The customer started screaming at him. What a jerk!

[223reload]

If I lived in a state where multiple deer harvest was possible,I might after making do for me and mine,But here one buck per year for nearly all deer species and pronghorns ,and I don't hunt anything but deer. ,NO elk pronghorns or any other biggame,I used to but the game Dept just made me not want to after some new regs.

[opposum]

Sounds like everyone has the same frame of mind. Donate if they can either to family, friends, or neighbors.:cool2: I live in Benton County Missouri. I've heard talk on the local radio station that the program in Benton County has enough to pay for the processing of 45 deer free of charge to the hunter and possibly more. Troy is right. Specially if you live in Missouri. Contact the processor or your local game warden...I'm sure they can give you the details.

[massa_jorge]

We have "hunters for the hungry" here. I donate 2-4 deer a year and also make a monetary donation to help cover the processing costs. The guy I got my license from today asked if I wanted to donate $2 of the license fee to the organization. Of course, I said sure. He told me he had just had a customer a few minutes earlier that "went off" when he was asked to donate. The customer started screaming at him. What a jerk!

yeah, it's sad that a lot of people will throw a fit for no reason, when a simple 'no thanks' would suffice.

[Mi11er]

I like the share the harvest program. But as stated here many times, I need the stakes and burger for my family. The one problem I have with the program is it kinda takes the meaning of hunting, providing for your family, and makes it a moot point. If you are not going to eat what you kill then don't kill it. I just mean the people that kill multiple deer with no notion of eating any of it.

[flathead willie]

I'm with you on that, Jess. I don't know why people would hunt at all if they didn't eat the meat. I guess they just like to kill things. I don't trust anyone like that. I usually kill anywhere from 6 to 12 a year so I have plenty of meat for my family. I always give a deer to the guy that lets me hunt his farm, and to any old folks that want it. Until I moved away from my hunting land a few years ago, I usually got my freezer full during bow season. That leaves me a month to fill other people's freezers with a muzzle loader and a gun. I got 8 last year, and put 6 in my freezer and gave 2 to charity.

[lance]

I'm with you on that, Jess. I don't know why people would hunt at all if they didn't eat the meat. I guess they just like to kill things. I don't trust anyone like that. I usually kill anywhere from 6 to 12 a year so I have plenty of meat for my family. I always give a deer to the guy that lets me hunt his farm, and to any old folks that want it. Until I moved away from my hunting land a few years ago, I usually got my freezer full during bow season. That leaves me a month to fill other people's freezers with a muzzle loader and a gun. I got 8 last year, and put 6 in my freezer and gave 2 to charity.

A guy that I go to chuch with is giving me the rest of his 1 deer from last year he is feeding a Rack this year I will be curious as to how much of last years deer he has eaten . He does let me shoot cull deer late muzzleloader season when he is done rack hunting . Guess i am used for population and genetic control he trail cameras and tells me what I can shoot .

[flathead willie]

The brother of one guy that lets me hunt his farm "claims" to be a rack hunter. The only problem is he keeps shooting 2-3 year old bucks and just lets them lay where they fall. Some people ain't got the sense God gave geese!

[Mi11er]

The brother of one guy that lets me hunt his farm "claims" to be a rack hunter. The only problem is he keeps shooting 2-3 year old bucks and just lets them lay where they fall. Some people ain't got the sense God gave geese!
That guy is a idiot:angry::angry: Those are the people that give hunters a bad name.

[opposum]

The brother of one guy that lets me hunt his farm "claims" to be a rack hunter. The only problem is he keeps shooting 2-3 year old bucks and just lets them lay where they fall. Some people ain't got the sense God gave geese!


That's just wrong. In Missouri there is a Want and Waste regulation. If you kill it and let it lay then you are subject to arrest. Sound like you should give your local warden a call. Maybe he could talk some sense with him.

[opposum]

That guy is a idiot:angry::angry: Those are the people that give hunters a bad name.

That's not hunting...that's poaching. Big difference.

[Catpaw]

I have a hard time with this one ...Seem's some folk say well were just getting by? Or well i don't make much money so i hunt for family first? Well if you have the internet and the gas to scout a area out your not that hurting but your nebiour's might be or that single mom rasieng those 3 kid's might be in need of some meat for the kid's ? There's allway's someone in need of your help if you open your heart to them!!! God blessed you with a gift for hunting he'll bless you a gift to feed your's and there's too.

[cats4uandme]

well my internet may be off before long lol. due to scraping by. work for me has been slow this summer due to economy and construction being slow. wife had sugery and has been off work for a month. so i do know hard times. glad my grandparents still are well off and make sure if things get to bad thet we do get some help.

guess i should take them some meat this winter. i dont know if they would eat it at there age with me doing the processing. but my grandpa was a deer hunter. and was a no site instinct hunter with a recurve. aw they might eat some if i take it cooked.

but i eat what i shoot. and i dont give a ratts poop if its a broke rack turd or a doe. hell first deer i shot in my life three years back when i was learning taxidemy was a button buck. i ate every steak.

i have 0 respect for those who drop game and leave to waste. and would turn in one of them in a heartbeat.

like i said before. i would help a poacher drag a deer to the truck and butcher it for him to feed his family. and would turn in my friend if he sawed off a rack and walked away.

to me morals and living mean alot. killing for a horn is another.

theres laws and i wont talk about things ive seen in detail. but i see a difference in breaking laws. and i wont send a man to jail if hes feeding his own. but sure as heck will if he shoots to see how many points it has.:wink:

[Mi11er]

That's not hunting...that's poaching. Big difference.
Oh I know the difference. But the sad thing is that the general public does not know the difference and thinks that any thing that has to do with "shooting animals" is hunting.
My wifes best friend earlier this month at the start of dove season saw I was getting ready to go on a dove shoot. She asked me if I had my shotgun, "bullets", and cooler full of beer:crazy::ooooh: I said "cooler full of beer?" she said yes don't you go out and shoot at stuff and drink beer all day? I was just flabbergasted at the sterotype that "all redneck hunters do nothing but drink beer and shoot defencless animals". As much as we think the public has changed their outlook on us as hunters, there are still people out there that have no idea what hunting means to us and why we hunt. Everytime they hear a story like that; hunters are knocked down a knotch.

[opposum]

Oh I know the difference. But the sad thing is that the general public does not know the difference and thinks that any thing that has to do with "shooting animals" is hunting.
My wifes best friend earlier this month at the start of dove season saw I was getting ready to go on a dove shoot. She asked me if I had my shotgun, "bullets", and cooler full of beer:crazy::ooooh: I said "cooler full of beer?" she said yes don't you go out and shoot at stuff and drink beer all day? I was just flabbergasted at the sterotype that "all redneck hunters do nothing but drink beer and shoot defencless animals". As much as we think the public has changed their outlook on us as hunters, there are still people out there that have no idea what hunting means to us and why we hunt. Everytime they hear a story like that; hunters are knocked down a knotch.

Yes, you are right. The general public does see shooting animals as hunting. Even if they are taken by illegal methods, poaching or not. I love to hunt and hunt with all methods legal in Missouri. I hunt with bow, rifle, muzzle loader, and shotgun. I do so because I love to watch mother nature more than filling my freezer. But I do like many others fill my freezer by the end of the year. The act of one hunter/poacher can and does put a black eye on hunting. The future of hunting depends on you and me. Do it right...take a child hunting...give the respect to the landowners and the game you are hunting. Good luck this deer season and be safe.:wink:

[Mi11er]

Yes, you are right. The general public does see shooting animals as hunting. Even if they are taken by illegal methods, poaching or not. I love to hunt and hunt with all methods legal in Missouri. I hunt with bow, rifle, muzzle loader, and shotgun. I do so because I love to watch mother nature more than filling my freezer. But I do like many others fill my freezer by the end of the year. The act of one hunter/poacher can and does put a black eye on hunting. The future of hunting depends on you and me. Do it right...take a child hunting...give the respect to the landowners and the game you are hunting. Good luck this deer season and be safe.:wink:
Well said. reps to you

[cats4uandme]

ya i like my beer and hunting. but they dont mix. now while i never drink while hunting deer. just dont work and i dont own high dollar huts with sound muffeling sides. if i had that kind of money i would hunt as much. i hunt to put food in the freezor. you cant pop beers and move around drinking while in a tree stand,lol.

but on ocassion i do take a beer or two in my pocket while dove hunting. but the cooler stays with the truck. getting drunk. thats for after the guns get put away.:wink:

[opposum]

ya i like my beer and hunting. but they dont mix. now while i never drink while hunting deer. just dont work and i dont own high dollar huts with sound muffeling sides. if i had that kind of money i would hunt as much. i hunt to put food in the freezor. you cant pop beers and move around drinking while in a tree stand,lol.

but on ocassion i do take a beer or two in my pocket while dove hunting. but the cooler stays with the truck. getting drunk. thats for after the guns get put away.:wink:

Beer after the hunt. That's the only way to go. :wink:Plus it's a felony to be drunk and in possession of a firearm.:ooooh:

[ozzy]

Here the tags are not generous, i get one and its get the cookbook out. As far as sharing let the govt. hand out muzzy's. Whats that saying teach a Govt. Official how to hunt and he will probably hit one and get another out the window and blame it on the :crazy:

[lance]

I prefer to have a beer or two or....after the day is done . I usually don't put them away the night before either. I have to drive in the a.m. sometimes 2 hours no one lets me hunt close to home . Plus I don't overdue the coffee. And it seems the older I get the smaller my bladder gets.:wink: Drinking and driving is not a good combo either .

[Trevor1]

I think this hunters feeding the hungry thing is just for people who like to shoot deer, but don't really want them. Not a whole lot different than just killing them and leaving them in the woods in my opinion. If you don't want to eat it then there's really no point in killing it. But I think it eases some peoples minds. They like to think of themselves as good samaritans. I know I'm not gonna go kill deer just to donate to the hunters feeding the hungry. I already pay taxes to support enough baloney as it is. When I give someone deer meat, I've already processed it all they have to do is take it home and cook it or put it in their freezer, but I'm not gonna be giving them my whole deer.

[lance]

Trevor there is adifference between shooting a deer and donating it and leaving it to rot . I also like you believe some people just like to kill stuff....I give some deer meat away not because I am not game hungry but ther are people not as fortunate as myself Iam glad I can share deer tho I do not use the hunters for the hungry system myself .

[Trevor1]

Trevor there is adifference between shooting a deer and donating it and leaving it to rot . I also like you believe some people just like to kill stuff....I give some deer meat away not because I am not game hungry but ther are people not as fortunate as myself Iam glad I can share deer tho I do not use the hunters for the hungry system myself .

Personally, I don't care because as long as it's legal there's nothing wrong with it, they can do whatever they want with their deer, keep it, donate it, grind it up into dog food, it's their choice. I'm not gonna do it, because I don't shoot so many deer that I can afford to give them away.

[Kutter]

Yeah, I suppose you guy's are right.
I usually only keep one ore two deer a year an give 7-9 away.
Never mind the $600-$800 I spend to hunt, after including all costs involved.
Never mind that one of the reasons I am able to hunt the property I hunt is because the owners want as many does killed as possible and I am one of the folks they count on to thin out the herd that cost them many tens of thousands a years in crop damage.
Never mind that I am the one who has to field dress and drag all those deer out of the woods.
Never mind that the folks I give the deer to, who are no longer physically able to hunt or have never hunted anything in their life, but cannot afford very much meat of any kind.
Never mind that I have never, nor would I ever, leave a deer dead in the woods.
Never mind that the deer I DO bring home, is for my wife and son who love venison. ( I will eat it, but I aint no fan. Give me beef or pork any ol day)
Never mind all that. Let's just keep in focus that I am a lazy wanton killer who just wants to kill something and am using the excuse of giving it away to justify my actions.
Oh, and one more thing,,,,,,,,,,,,never mind!

[CuzICan]

John has donated to nursing homes on several occasions, esp in our home towns, though it's been a while back. Those folks would LOVE to be able to get around and hunt and can't, or just be able to have a little wild meat since they grew up on it.

We also had a neighbor at one time that could not have have meat unless it was venison due to some serious health problems, and atherosclerosis on top of the other diseases he had. He much appreciated us sending him meat every chance we got and we enjoyed doing that for him.

I am glad to hear that Missouri has that program, I think it is DEFINITELY a worthy effort.

[opposum]

I think this hunters feeding the hungry thing is just for people who like to shoot deer, but don't really want them. Not a whole lot different than just killing them and leaving them in the woods in my opinion. If you don't want to eat it then there's really no point in killing it. But I think it eases some peoples minds. They like to think of themselves as good samaritans. I know I'm not gonna go kill deer just to donate to the hunters feeding the hungry. I already pay taxes to support enough baloney as it is. When I give someone deer meat, I've already processed it all they have to do is take it home and cook it or put it in their freezer, but I'm not gonna be giving them my whole deer.

It sounds like you have already donated deer to people in need (just like Share the Harvest) if what you say is true "When I give someone deer meat, I've already processed it all they have to do is take it home and cook it or put it in their freezer." I hardly agree that this is like letting the deer rot in the woods. I said earlier on one of my post that I donate a couple of deer each year. I hunt on some heavily populated properties and the landowner wants doe harvested. What better way to handle the over population for that landowner and helping the not so fortunate in the community?

I gave a deer to a neighbor one year and he expressed his gratitude like you wouldn't believe. He lost his job and was really in need. He said, "thanks I really need the meat...I would have gone hunting but I couldn't afford the $7 for the doe tag. If it wasn't the end of season I'd bought him a tag to let him kill his own deer. No...this man isn't lazy...just down on his luck. Don't knock those that are in a position to help people like this.

My decision to start this thread wasn't to have bickering like this....simply to bring it to others attention that there are programs out there like this. In Missouri, landowners receive free tags. Those with crop damage could legally help themselves and help those in need. What a great thing. If you are in a position financially and live in a state that has programs like this...try donating a deer...you just might feel good about it. :big_smile:

[lance]

Trevor I am not disagreeing with you and glad you donate to those in need .

[bluejay]

Thanks to everyone who donates to Share The Harvest or anybody else that needs the meat. I do the same.
There is an article on STH in this months conservation mag.

[Trevor1]

It sounds like you have already donated deer to people in need (just like Share the Harvest) if what you say is true "When I give someone deer meat, I've already processed it all they have to do is take it home and cook it or put it in their freezer." I hardly agree that this is like letting the deer rot in the woods. I said earlier on one of my post that I donate a couple of deer each year. I hunt on some heavily populated properties and the landowner wants doe harvested. What better way to handle the over population for that landowner and helping the not so fortunate in the community?

I gave a deer to a neighbor one year and he expressed his gratitude like you wouldn't believe. He lost his job and was really in need. He said, "thanks I really need the meat...I would have gone hunting but I couldn't afford the $7 for the doe tag. If it wasn't the end of season I'd bought him a tag to let him kill his own deer. No...this man isn't lazy...just down on his luck. Don't knock those that are in a position to help people like this.

My decision to start this thread wasn't to have bickering like this....simply to bring it to others attention that there are programs out there like this. In Missouri, landowners receive free tags. Those with crop damage could legally help themselves and help those in need. What a great thing. If you are in a position financially and live in a state that has programs like this...try donating a deer...you just might feel good about it. :big_smile:


You can do whatever you want with the deer you kill. Good luck

[Trevor1]

It sounds like you have already donated deer to people in need (just like Share the Harvest) if what you say is true "When I give someone deer meat, I've already processed it all they have to do is take it home and cook it or put it in their freezer." I hardly agree that this is like letting the deer rot in the woods. I said earlier on one of my post that I donate a couple of deer each year. I hunt on some heavily populated properties and the landowner wants doe harvested. What better way to handle the over population for that landowner and helping the not so fortunate in the community?

I gave a deer to a neighbor one year and he expressed his gratitude like you wouldn't believe. He lost his job and was really in need. He said, "thanks I really need the meat...I would have gone hunting but I couldn't afford the $7 for the doe tag. If it wasn't the end of season I'd bought him a tag to let him kill his own deer. No...this man isn't lazy...just down on his luck. Don't knock those that are in a position to help people like this.

My decision to start this thread wasn't to have bickering like this....simply to bring it to others attention that there are programs out there like this. In Missouri, landowners receive free tags. Those with crop damage could legally help themselves and help those in need. What a great thing. If you are in a position financially and live in a state that has programs like this...try donating a deer...you just might feel good about it. :big_smile:

Giving away some deer meat to friends is nothing like hunters for hunger, because I'm giving away meat that I had planned on keeping for my family, this means I'll have to do with less. I'm not out shooting deer just to donate or fill other peoples freezer's.

[cats4uandme]

touchy subject i guess. as long as the meats being consumed i dont have a problem with it. weather its sharing a loin with buddies that i do often, or donating it to needy folks. if its used. IMO its ok. i just like it to much and often rely on it. thats why i dont donate mine.

its sawing off heads and leaving it that urks me. but that aint what this threads about.

[opposum]

touchy subject i guess. as long as the meats being consumed i dont have a problem with it. weather its sharing a loin with buddies that i do often, or donating it to needy folks. if its used. IMO its ok. i just like it to much and often rely on it. thats why i dont donate mine.

its sawing off heads and leaving it that urks me. but that aint what this threads about.


Well said.

[Kutter]

Very well said. Dang, when is this place gonna let me rep you again?

[Mi11er]

touchy subject i guess. as long as the meats being consumed i dont have a problem with it. weather its sharing a loin with buddies that i do often, or donating it to needy folks. if its used. IMO its ok. i just like it to much and often rely on it. thats why i dont donate mine.

its sawing off heads and leaving it that urks me. but that aint what this threads about.
Ya, that is what I think too. Great Post

[Angler2007]

I donated my first one to the program yesterday. We have an urban rifle season to shoot some does well before actual rifle season. As hot as it was yesterday it was easy to get rid of the deer. Also by donating the deer during this season the state picks up the processing tab through donations and it doesn't coat you a dime, just $7 for a tag. I think it is a good deal but I also shoot 4-5 for myself each year.

[opposum]

Glad to hear you participated in the program. :big_smile:

[Angler4life]

We have programs like this in Ohio. There is one near my town that is called Christ Pantry. We have taken a lot of deer meat there. They feed homeless or low income families for free on special days. These programs are great!