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.
All donated deer are 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.
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.
Charitable organizations wishing to receive donated venison should contact the program at 302-284-4795.
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.
Deer dropped off at a cooler must be field-dressed and registered by the hunter. The registration number must be written on the field tag attached to the deer.
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.
New Castle County
Augustine Wildlife Area
303 North Congress Street
Port Penn, DE 19731
Kent County
Little Creek Wildlife Area
3018 Bayside Drive
Dover, DE 19901
Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area
782 Kersey Road
Viola, DE 19979
Mosquito Control Office
1161 Airport Road
Milford, DE 19963
Sussex County
Redden State Forest Headquarters
18074 Redden Forest Drive
Georgetown, DE 19947
Please use the new walk-in, located between the education building and storage building.
Trap Pond State Park
33587 Bald Cypress Lane
Laurel, DE 19956
Gumboro Community Center
36849 Millsboro Highway
Millsboro, DE 19966
Assawoman Wildlife Area
37604 Mulberry Landing Road
Frankford, DE 19945
Kent County
D&J Custom Cutting
89 Myers Drive
Hartly, DE 19953
302-492-0323
Miller’s Butcher Shop
577 Morgans Choice Road
Wyoming, DE 19934
302-697-8278
Related Topics: dfw, fish and wildlife, hunger, hunters, hunting, outdoors and recreation, wildlife