COLUMBIA — As the hunting season begins hunters are being encouraged to share their harvests to help fellow Missourians.

The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Conservation Federation of Missouri sponsor the Share the Harvest program each year and encourage hunters to donate their venison.

Hunters can donate their harvest to participating meat processors across the state. The meat processors will grind and package the meat, then give it to food banks and food pantries for distribution across the state. 

Jack Gieseking has been hunting for over 10 years and always donates part of his deer to Share the Harvest. He said the process is very simple. 

“I will give them the deer and I will say how much product I want,” Gieseking said. “And then the rest of it we will donate to share the harvest.”

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, hunters donated more than 259,400 pounds of venison to the program last deer season, including 4,855 whole deer.

Gieseking holds the program close to his heart and encourages other hunters to participate. 

“It really just goes to show how in demand food really is and half a deer can make a really big difference in the area,” Gieseking said. 

All processing fees are covered by various sponsors. For a list of participating meat processors, click here.