LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Hunters across the state are donating their deer to help area food banks.

Modern gun deer season is one of the most popular hunting seasons in Kentucky, and it began on Saturday. It also kicks off a major donation drive in the commonwealth.

Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry is an organization promoting donating harvested deer to area food banks. In Louisville, Kingsley’s Meats and Catering is an official deer processor where hunters will drop off their game after a successful hunt.

Gary Fischer is a self-declared “master meat cutter.” He’s also been an advocate for the donation drive since Kingsley got involved more than 10 years ago.

“They go through all the trouble and hunt it, pay the money and then they just give it away,” Fischer said.

The expert meat cutter has been with Kingsley’s for more than 50 years. Even during his 20-plus years as a teacher, Fischer was working part-time at the Louisville staple.

The Louisville meat market is one of at least two deer drop off sites in Jefferson County.

Last year more than 3000 deer were donated across the state. “Hunters for the Hungry picks it up and distributes it,” Fischer said.

The ground deer meat will end up at organizations like Dare to Care Food Bank. Dare to Care will prepare and deliver the venison across Jefferson County. “We often depend on farmers in the summer and to have protein like this, in the fall, kind of helps level set, and balance the foods that we are getting in,” explained Alexus Richardson with Dare to Care.

Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry reports its organization collected and distributed more than 400,000 venison meals in 2023. Kingsley’s is already a very busy on any given day but during deer season, Fischer has even more to do.