As deer season begins across Missouri, conservation officials and partner organizations are urging hunters to donate venison through the Share the Harvest program to help feed residents confronting hunger. The statewide initiative, which relies on hunters, processors and food banks, has distributed more than 6 million pounds of venison since 1992.
How the program works and recent results
Share the Harvest is administered through a partnership that includes the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Conservation Federation of Missouri, the Missouri Association of Meat Processors and Feeding Missouri. Participating hunters deliver a whole field‑dressed deer to approved meat processors, who prepare and package the venison at no charge to the donor. Processed venison is then distributed through local food banks, pantries and charitable feeding programs.
The program has averaged about 5,000 donated deer annually in recent years, translating to roughly 250,000 pounds of venison distributed each year. Organizers say demand on food banks has been growing: nearly 800,000 Missourians experienced food insecurity in 2025, increasing pressure on the charitable food network.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total venison distributed since 1992 | 6,000,000+ pounds |
| Recent annual average donations | ~5,000 deer (~250,000 pounds) |
| Share the Harvest goal this season | 6,500 donated deer |
| Longer‑term target (2027) | 10,000 donated deer |
Why organizers want more donations
Program leaders say expanding venison donations helps address immediate hunger needs and supports conservation and local traditions. Processed venison provides a lean source of protein for people relying on emergency food assistance, and donations allow hunters to convert harvested deer into food for neighbors rather than discarding meat they cannot use.
"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.
Officials say donations are free for hunters. Participating processors complete a donation form before venison enters the distribution network, and voluntary financial contributions are accepted. Hunters can also support the program by making donations when they purchase hunting permits or by contributing through the Conservation Federation of Missouri at confedmo.org/share-the-harvest/.
Practical information for hunters and recipients
Hunters who want to donate should:
- Field‑dress the deer and transport the whole carcass to an approved Share the Harvest meat processor.
- Complete the required donation form at the processor so the venison can be tracked into the food bank distribution system.
- Consider a voluntary financial contribution to help cover processing or distribution costs, though donations of carcasses are accepted at no charge.
People seeking donated venison should contact local food banks and pantry partners to check availability. Distribution depends on local inventory and demand.
Program expansion goals
Organizers are aiming for 6,500 donated deer this season and set a longer‑term goal of 10,000 donated deer by 2027. Achieving those targets would increase the amount of venison available to food pantries and could help blunt rising need among food‑insecure Missourians.
Share the Harvest officials say the program’s structure — relying on an established network of meat processors and food banks — allows donations to move quickly from hunter to shelf. Still, the program’s success depends on hunter participation and ongoing support from processors and charitable partners.
For hunters and community members who want more information, program details and a list of participating processors are available through the Conservation Federation of Missouri’s Share the Harvest page. The federation also accepts contributions and coordinates outreach to broaden participation across the state.
The coming weeks are critical for the program: as hunting season proceeds, each donated deer can translate into multiple meals for a family in need, organizers say — reinforcing a tradition of community support tied to Missouri’s hunting heritage.
