Donate Deer During Indiana Deer Season to Help Feed Those in Need

There is no denying the impact of rising costs on our daily lives. For many, putting food on the table is a real challenge. But if you're a hunter in Indiana, there's a way you can make a difference and help your fellow Hoosiers in need during the deer hunting season.

Indiana Deer Season Dates

According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the 2023-2024 deer hunting seasons are as follows:

Reduction Zone: Sept. 15, 2023 - Jan. 31, 2024 (where open)
Youth Season: Sept. 23-24, 2023
Archery: Oct. 1, 2023 - Jan. 7, 2024
Firearm: Nov. 18 - Dec. 3, 2023
Muzzleloader: Dec. 9-24, 2023

You can participate in a collaborative effort between the Sportsmen's Benevolence Fund and Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry by donating your deer. In 2021, 879 deer donations from hunters like you provided over 181,000 meals to those in need across the state, totaling more than 45,000 pounds of venison.

Protein is an important component of every cell in the body. Your body uses protein to build and repair tissue, make enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals. Protein is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. It also aids in boosting metabolism and lowering blood pressure. Unlike fat and carbohydrates, the body does not store protein, and therefore has no reserve to draw on when it needs a new supply.

Protein is an Essential Nutrient

Protein is an essential component of the body, used for tissue repair, enzyme and hormone production, and building bones, muscles, and blood. By donating venison, you contribute to boosting metabolism and lowering blood pressure for those in need.

Photo by Laura College on Unsplash

How to Donate

The process is simple:

Enjoy your deer hunting experience.
Harvest a deer.
Drop off the field-dressed deer at a local participating processor.
The processing fees are covered by the Sportsmen's Benevolence Fund.
The processor creates healthy venison burgers distributed to food banks.

There are two ways to donate your game. The first is to drop off your fresh, legally tagged, cleaned, and field-dressed game at a participating, state-licensed processing facility. The organization will cover the processing and distribute the venison to shelters across Indiana. The second option is to donate a pound of venison after you pay for processing your game.

Other Ways to Help

If you're not a hunter or a farmer but still want to help, you can make a monetary donation to Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry's cause "Share What You Can Spare." Every contribution makes a significant impact.

So, this deer season, make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. Help feed fellow Hoosiers in need and share the abundance nature provides. To learn more and get involved, visit HoosiersFeedingTheHungry.org.

[Source: Indiana Department of Natural Resources; Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry]

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