The East Texas Food Bank is asking hunters to donate venison through its Hunters for the Hungry program as deer season opens. The program works with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to distribute deer to local food banks. Hunters can give legally harvested deer to a participating meat processor, which is paid to prepare the venison for distribution.
David Emerson, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank, said many people the group serves look forward to receiving fresh venison each year. He said 1 in 6 East Texans, including 1 in 4 children, are facing hunger, and that the food bank serves more than 30 million meals a year. The program has provided over 12 million servings of venison to hungry Texans, according to the food bank.
Hunters can take deer to four East Texas processors: TFR Country Store in Carnes, Massingills Meat Market in Lufkin, 7-H Processing in Quitman, and FTF Deer Processors in Hooks. The program accepts only deer and only fresh venison. Due to federal restrictions, it cannot accept hog meat or roadkill.
Texas Parks and Wildlife said the general white-tailed deer season begins November 7 and runs into January, depending on the county. Hunting regulations are posted on the agency's website, tpwd.texas.gov.