The Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife is encouraging white-tailed deer hunters to consider taking one more deer this season and donating it through the Field to Food Bank program. The agency says the effort simultaneously manages the state's deer herd and addresses food insecurity.
Hunters bring field-dressed deer to designated drop-off locations on set dates. Division staff then move the animals to a meat processing facility at Pickaway Correctional Institution operated by Ohio Penal Industries. Once processing is finished, the division coordinates with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks to route venison to regional food banks and pantries.
The first donation window is Oct. 10-11, labeled the Disease Surveillance Area Early Gun Season, at three locations: Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area in Wyandot County, Delaware Wildlife Area Shooting Range in Delaware County and Hog Creek Game Club in Allen County.
A seven-site list operates Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 5 and 6, and again Dec. 19-20. Along with the three sites above, that group includes Hardin County Fairgrounds in Kenton, Hebron Fish Hatchery in Licking County, the Knox County SWCD Office in Mount Vernon and Ross County Fairgrounds in Chillicothe. All windows run noon to 8 p.m.
Whole, field-dressed deer are accepted. Animals must be properly tagged and game-checked, and hunters must hold a license and deer permit unless exempted. Donated deer count toward county and statewide bag limits.
The division began the program in October of the prior year. In its first year, 182 deer were donated, producing 36,400 venison servings. Monetary gifts can help cover processing and packing costs. Program details are posted at ohiodnr.gov/DonateVenison.