Still Time for Deer Donations in January

PIERRE, S.D.—Hunters still have plenty of opportunities for making donations of antlerless deer to the Sportsmen Against Hunger program.

“There are a variety of deer seasons still open for the taking of antlerless deer,” said Sportsmen Against Hunger President Jeff Olson. “These antlerless only seasons offer hunters the opportunity to get back out in the field with friends, help out landowners by thinning the herd and donate a gift of deer meat to those less fortunate.”

West River, East River and National Wildlife Refuge deer seasons are open Jan. 1 through Jan. 9 for the taking of antlerless deer only. Hunters may also take antlerless deer only in the youth, archery and muzzleloader seasons that run through Jan. 31. Hunters taking part in depredation hunts may also donate antlerless deer to the program.

Unsold licenses are still available for all of the seasons with hunters allowed up to five licenses in each season. Licenses may be purchased through the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department Web site at www.sdgfp.info. Licenses are still specific to the season and unit for which they are issued.

New to the Sportsmen Against Hunger program this year is a $50 processing certificate available directly from participating game processors. “In many cases processors will accept the certificate as payment in full for processing the deer,” Olson said, “and they take care of getting in touch with a food bank to get the meat. The donation process has really been streamlined this year.”

For a list of all SAH processors and their processing fees for both

antlerless deer and bucks, call toll-free 1-800-456-2758, or go to these Web sites: http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/Info/SAH/index.htm or www.feedtheneedsd.com. An earlier restriction that limited hunters to four processing certificates has been removed.

Hunters can make financial donations to Sportsmen Against Hunger by using the check-off box on South Dakota’s big game hunting license applications. Financial donations are not limited to hunters. Anyone who cares about helping the hungry can make financial donations by mailing them to Sportsmen Against Hunger, P.O. Box 1172, Pierre, SD 57501.

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