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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Hunters who would like to donate their excess venison this hunting season can take it to an approved meat processor, which will then package the meat and take it to a hunger relief agency such as Ozarks Food Harvest for distribution.

The Share the Harvest program provides a way for hunters to donate much needed meat protein to needy Missourians. The program is administered by the Missouri Department of Conservation in conjunction with the Conservation Federation of Missouri.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri has two deer hunting seasons: firearms and archery. The archery season is in two segments, and the firearms season consists of five portions: urban, youth only, November, muzzleloader and antlerless only. During the urban counties portion of the firearms season, the entire processing cost will be paid for by the Conservation Federation of Missouri. During all other portions and seasons, the hunter will receive a $35 discount on processing fees.

Share the Harvest has donated 1.4 million pounds of deer meat throughout Missouri since it started in 1992, and last year, a total of 5,828 deer were donated.

Ozarks Food Harvest serves 29 counties in southwest Missouri. The Food Bank distributes more than four million pounds of food annually to its 323 agencies, but has seen a 44 percent increase in the number of requests for food assistance over the last four years.

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To learn more, contact Lindsey Neddenriep at (417) 865-3411.