Hunting deer to fight hunger

White-tail deer hunting, a rich American outdoors tradition, begins its 2009 season in Ohio on Monday morning and runs through Dec. 6 with a bonus weekend Dec. 19-20.

We encourage hunters to practice safety, follow the letter of the law and enjoy the experience. Hunting has long been a source of adventure and camaraderie among its thousands of participants in the Buckeye State. But it also serves useful purposes in controlling the overpopulation of deer and in contributing to the state’s economy.

Each year, hunting has a $859 million economic impact in the state through the sale of equipment, fuel, food, lodging and more, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.

With a pre-hunting season population estimate this year at 650,000 white-tailed deer, the Division of Wildlife anticipates 115,000 to 125,000 deer will be killed during the nine-day season. Approximately 420,000 hunters are expected to take to the Ohio woods in their annual odyssey in controlling the balance of nature.

The attributes of hunting also can be very practical. It provides many hunting families with needed sustenance through Ohio’s harsh winters.

Deer donations grow in popularity

More recently, deer hunting also has become an effective weapon in the war against hunger.

Groups such as Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry and Safari Club International have promoted venison donations to food pantries, such as Second Harvest Food Banks.

This year, the state has awarded ODNR a $100,000 grant to pick up the tab on costly processing fees for hunters who want to donate venison to Second Harvest and other food pantries.

Matching donations from FHFH and the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks provide added incentive to give. Last year, Ohio hunters donated more than 1,000 deer – more than double the previous year’s total – providing food banks with enough venison for 220,000 meals.

With this year’s funding impetus, we’d like to see FHFA meet its goal of at least 2,000 deer and 440,000 meals.

Hunters who strike it rich this week ought seriously consider taking part in the donate-a-deer program to benefit the growing legions of the hungry in the Mahoning Valley and the state.

It’s not hard to do. Go to the FHFH Web site (fhfh.org), click on the links for Donate Deer, Ohio, Mahoning-Trumbull-Columbiana counties for information on sponsors, processors, butchers and food banks in our region.