Hunters Feeding the Hungry, a non-profit organization in Arkansas, has been providing meals to families in need for over 20 years. This year, thanks to the partnership with 16 private hunting clubs enrolled in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Deer Management Assistance Program, over 200 deer have been donated to the organization. This increase in donations has been a game changer for the program, as protein is often difficult for food pantries to acquire.
One of the participating clubs, owned by Gary Futrell, recently hosted a youth hunt where 18 deer were harvested and donated to feed the hungry. This initiative not only helps those in need but also benefits the overall health of the deer herd on the property. In addition, $18,000 was raised for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Get It for Game Wardens program.
The collaboration between the game and fish commission, hunting clubs, hunters, and meat processors has been crucial in the success of the program. Hunters Feeding the Hungry has partnered with meat processors throughout the state to process the donated deer, with many individuals contributing extra meat from their own hunts.
Jeremy Brown, DMAP Coordinator with AGFC, highlights the many positive outcomes of the program, including partners helping each other and addressing food insecurity in Arkansas. The growth of the program this year has been substantial, with additional biologists hired to handle the increase in donated deer.
AGFC encourages anyone interested in joining the deer management assistance program to sign up. The initiative has proven to be a successful way to help those in need while also benefiting the local wildlife population.
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Photo credit katv.com