Delaware’s deer hunters share part of their harvest each year with Delawareans in need. They provide thousands of pounds of venison through the Delaware Hunters Against Hunger program.

The effort began in Delaware in 1992 as “Sportsmen Against Hunger,” a coalition of sporting groups and DNREC. It has provided more than two million meals to needy Delawareans.

All donated deer will be tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The deer will be processed into ground venison, free of charge. The meat is distributed to participating charitable groups.

The program only accepts deer harvested and registered in Delaware.

Charitable organizations wishing to receive donated venison should contact the program at 302-735-8683.

Donating Deer

Hunters drop off donated deer at participating butcher shops or at coolers maintained by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The coolers are self-serve, walk-in units. Each has a posted phone number for hunters to report their donation and alert DNREC staff to retrieve the donation and take it for processing. Except where noted, coolers are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Deer dropped off at a cooler must be field-dressed and registered by the hunter using a tag provided at the cooler.

Deer that are spinal shot, caped or missing their heads will not be accepted. The deer’s head is needed for testing for Chronic Wasting Disease.

Donated deer must be tagged using one of the tags provided at each donation cooler. The tag must be filled out completely. The upper portion must be attached to the deer. The lower portion must be placed in the drop-box located at each cooler.

The coolers are frequently checked. Donated deer are taken to private butcher shops or the butcher shop at the Sussex Community Corrections Center in Georgetown.

Related Topics:  dfw, fish and wildlife, hunger, hunters, hunting, outdoors and recreation, wildlife