Share the Harvest encourages deer donations

COLUMBIA — Mid-Missouri charities received 23,650 pounds of venison through the 2008 Share the Harvest program. The program aims to provide an abundance of clean and wholesome food, said Dave Murphy, executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri.

“Each of those one-pounds (donated) is calculated to produce four meals. In other words, a quarter-pounder in each one,” Murphy said.

Mike DeSantis, marketing coordinator at the Central Missouri Food Bank, said the food bank has distributed 10,381 pounds of ground deer since October. He said packages of ground meat are easier to store, ship, and distribute.

Earl Cannon, coordinator of Share the Harvest for the central Missouri chapter of Safari Club International, agreed ground meat is ideal because it is versatile for preparing meals.

But he said processing deer can be costly.

"The average out there is probably about $70," Cannon said. To encourage donations, the Conservation Federation of Missouri pays a flat $35 for each whole deer donated to the program. The Safari Club covers the remaining costs to process the meat into one-pound packages. 

Murphy said the numbers aren’t final, but he expects the statewide total to reach 260,000 to 270,000 pounds, based on 5,000 to 6,000 donated deer.

The 23,650 pounds donated in the mid-Missouri six-county area was a decrease of 2,900 pounds from the 2007 season. Cannon attributed the decrease to fewer deer killed.

Along with organizing the area’s program, Cannon has helped distribute meat to people in mid-Missouri.

“It was a very rewarding experience," Cannon said. "The people were so appreciative to get the donation."

Even with the decline in mid-Missouri, Murphy said the project provides more than one million meals to Missourians in need.