Generous hunters will have a chance to give back to their community throughout the season, thanks to a partnership between the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife and with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH).

What You Need To Know

  • Thanks to a partnership between the ODNR Division of Wildlife and Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, Ohio hunters have a way to easily donate deer they hunt

  • The venison will be distributed to local food banks

  • A $30,000 grant from the Division of Wildlife makes this possible

  • Hunters who donate deer need not pay processing fees

Hunters who manage to bring down a deer can donate the meat to a certified processor, which will then be distribute to area food banks, according to an ODNR press release. The hunters are not required to pay processing fees.

You can find a map of participating processors here.

This program is made possible thanks to a $30,000 grant through the ODNR Division of Wildlife.

“Each donated deer is provided to a verified charitable organization that offers food assistance,” the release reads. “One harvested deer yields approximately 50 pounds of venison, which equates to about 200 meals.”

ODNR says 1,157 deer were donated during the last season. Doing the math, that’s around 231,400 meals donated to local charities.

The hunting seasons are as follows:

  • Deer archery season – through Feb. 2
  • Statewide gun season – Dec. 2–8 and Dec. 21-22
  • Muzzleloader season – Jan. 4-7

Info on licenses and permits can be found here.

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