DNREC Fish and Wildlife announces Sportsmen Against Hunger
deer donation sites for 2011-2012 season

DOVER (Oct. 24, 2011) – The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife again will participate in the Sportsmen Against Hunger Program during the 2011-2012 Delaware deer hunting season. All donated deer will be processed, with the meat distributed to charitable groups participating in the program, for which the Delaware Legislature was able to provide full funding for this season.

Last year, 28,244 pounds of deer meat from the 867 deer donated by hunters was divided among 24 food pantries and shelters statewide, providing more than 100,000 meals for hungry Delawareans.

Participating hunters may drop off their deer at any of the eight walk-in coolers maintained by the Division. These coolers are checked periodically, and all donated deer are taken to the Sussex Correctional Institution where they are processed. If a hunter donates a deer, the Division requests that he or she please call the phone number posted on the cooler, so that the deer is transported to the correctional institution for processing in a timely manner.   

Any deer dropped off at a cooler also must be field dressed and registered, with the registration number written on the field tag attached to the animal. The number on the field tag will allow the Division to verify that a deer has been registered. NOTE: All deer taken in Delaware must be registered online at www.dehip.com/deer/default.asp or by calling toll-free 1-855-DEL-HUNT (1-855-335-4868).

The Division-maintained coolers for donated deer are located at:

New Castle County

           Augustine Wildlife Area, Port Penn

Kent County

            Woodland Beach Wildlife Area, Smyrna
            Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area, Viola

Sussex County

            Assawoman Wildlife Area, Frankford
            Division of Fish & Wildlife Mosquito Control Office, Milford
            Gumboro Community Center, Millsboro
            Redden State Forest Headquarters, Georgetown 
            Trap Pond State Park, Laurel

Successful hunters may also take their deer to any of the participating private butcher shops found throughout the state.   

COOPERATING BUTCHER SHOPS  

New Castle County 

Bill’s Deer Butchering                         Marks Butcher Shop
1210 Dutch Neck Road                      7296 Grantham Lane (River Road Ind. Park)
Middletown DE  19709                        New Castle, DE  19720
302-562-3651                                      302-229-0897

Townsend Deer Butchering
1300 Dexter Corner Road
Townsend, DE 19734
302-378-3268

Kent County 

Miller’s Custom Butcher Shop                        D&J Custom Cutting
577 Morgans Choice Road                             89 Myers Drive
Wyoming, DE  19934                                     Hartly, DE  19953
302-697-8278                                                 302-492-0323 

Sussex County 

Johnson’s Custom Cutting                             JAKOR Enterprises
21404 Burton Road                                        18740 Whaleys Corner Road
Milton, DE  19968                                           Georgetown, DE 19947
302-684-1790                                                 302-236-6801

Mark’s Meats & More
24910 Hollyville Road
Millsboro, DE  19966
302-933-0307 

For more information on the Sportsmen Against Hunger Program, please visit the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s website at www.fw.delaware.gov/Hunting/Pages/SportsmenAgainstHunger.aspx or contact Joe Rogerson, Fish and Wildlife Game Mammal Biologist, at 302-735-3600.

Vol. 41, No. 410