6 Million Pounds of Venison Donated to Missouri Food Banks Since 1992

Missouri Hunters Answer Call as Share the Harvest Enters New Season

As deer hunting season gets underway across Missouri, a statewide initiative is ramping up efforts to turn seasonal harvests into meals for families facing food insecurity. The Share the Harvest program, which has operated for over three decades, is confronting a surge in local need while rolling out fresh operational pilots designed to make participation easier than ever for hunters and processors alike.

Nearly 800,000 Missouri residents experienced food insecurity in 2025, exerting heavy pressure on food banks and charitable feeding programs throughout the state. To help bridge that gap, community leaders and state agencies are encouraging hunters to drop off field-dressed deer at designated local processors, where the venison is packaged and distributed free of charge to local pantries.

“Share the Harvest brings together Missouri’s hunting and conservation traditions with an opportunity to help our neighbors in need,” Share the Harvest Expansion Coordinator Jake Hindman said.

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Ambitious Targets and Operational Shifts

Since its inception in 1992, the program has distributed more than 6 million pounds of venison. In recent years, the effort has averaged roughly 5,000 donated deer annually, yielding about 250,000 pounds of meat. Program leaders are now targeting 6,500 donated deer for the current season, with an even higher goal of 10,000 donations set for 2027.

Reaching those targets requires removing friction points that have traditionally slowed down participation. Organizers are testing several new approaches this season to streamline the donation pipeline. Pilot projects include placing refrigerated coolers at selected locations, eliminating required hunter donation fees, and increasing financial reimbursements for participating meat processors.

Hunters can drop off a whole field-dressed deer at an approved processor without paying out-of-pocket processing fees, though voluntary contributions remain welcome. Participants complete a brief donation form before the meat enters the charitable network, and those looking to receive venison can check availability directly with local food pantries.

Disease Testing and Program Support

Venison distributed through Share the Harvest is subject to chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing requirements in designated zones. Deer harvested in counties located within 10 miles of a confirmed CWD detection undergo testing prior to distribution to support public health recommendations. The program now records the county of harvest instead of requiring an exact geographical location.

Administered jointly by the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Conservation Federation of Missouri, the Missouri Association of Meat Processors, and Feeding Missouri, the program relies on a vast network of hunters, businesses, and sponsors. Financial support can also be added directly when purchasing hunting permits or by contributing online through the Conservation Federation of Missouri.