Across Texas, hunters have the option of donating their kill this season to help feed food insecure communities.
The Hunters for the Hungry program — which is run through the group Feeding Texas and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department — distributes donated deer through Texas food banks to help feed families in need.
Through the program, hunters can donate legally harvested white-tailed deer or mule deer to a participating meat processor, who processes the meat and works with their local food bank to serve healthy, lean meats to those facing hunger.
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The program has provided over 10 million servings of venison to Texans in need. For the 2022-23 hunting season, hunters donated 87,125 pounds feeding 55,771 people in Texas.
“Hunters for the Hungry gives hunters a chance to make a big impact in our community,” said Kristine Marlow, President and CEO of Montgomery County Food Bank. “When you donate your legally harvested deer, you’re not just sharing your bounty — you’re helping put nutritious meals on the tables of children, families, and seniors who need it most. Together, we are stronger in the fight against hunger.”
Houston-area participating food banks include the Houston Food Bank, Montgomery County Food Bank and the Galveston County Food Bank.
In Montgomery County, food bank leaders work with Fleming’s Wild Game Processing to distribute donated deer to food insecure families across the county. Other meats, such as hog, are not currently accepted as donations, according to information about Hunters for the Hungry.
Other deer species accepted include Axis, Blackbuck, Fallow Deer, Nilgai, Oryx, and Silka Deer.
Hunters can donate legally tagged, field-dressed white-tail or mule deer at either of Fleming’s Wild Game Processing locations including the Lake Conroe location at 1940 S Pine Lake Road, Suite B, in Montgomery or the Lake Livingston location at 5680 U.S. 190 in Point Blank.
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Some of the participating meat processors with the Houston Food Bank include Bay Area Deer Processing in Pasadena, Chappell Hill Sausage Company near Brenham, Juniors Smokehouse in Highlands and Midway Food Market in Katy.
This Houston Food Bank link has the listed meat processors across the state.
Hunters can also donate funds directly to the program when registering for a hunting license or anytime online at feedingtexas.org. These funds will directly fuel efforts to distribute venison to Texans in need.
For a full list of hunting season dates, visit Texas Parks and Wildlife’s website at tpwd.texas.gov.
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