Paul's Pantry "Hunt for the Hungry" program to donate deer November 22, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Wisconsin deer hunters are now serving as food providers. Paul’s Pantry’s Hunt for the Hungry helps feed thousands of families in Northeast Wisconsin.
“People are already asking since bow season started. “Do you guys have any venison yet?,” says Paul’s Pantry Executive Director Craig Robbins.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Deer Donation Program processes and distributes deer to food pantries across the state. The Hunt for the Hungry program dates back to 1984 when Paul’s Pantry first opened.
For the list of participating processors or drop-off locations, click here.
“There was a couple guys right in the beginning, some hunters who would all go in a group for a hunting party and gave it a name ‘Hunt For The Hungry’ and they started just bringing their deer,” says Robbins.
Robbins says when he started 25 years ago, the pantry served 125 households a day. Now, the average is 300.
Robbins says, “there are a lot of extra tags that hunters receive, and we want people to fill all of those tags. You may want one for your own home, but you can fill the rest of those tags and drop them off here.”
DNR Deer Specialist Jeff Pritzl says Wisconsin is challenged in getting enough deer harvested – especially antlerless deer.
“We are always encouraging those that find themselves in a position to take an extra deer and share it through the formal deer donation program or there is a lot of sharing amongst family and friends and people,” says Pritzl.
Paul’s Pantry’s Craig Robbins says, “It’s a win-win. For the hunter, for insurance companies – getting the deer of the road with car-deer accidents, it’s a win for people who are hungry, for the hunter who loves their sport”
Feeding the community for a week would require 5,300 pounds of meat. With an average of 30 pounds per deer, that is about 177 deer.
Robbins says, “that process is so simple. All we need is for you to drop off the field-dressed deer, and we need your name and confirmation number. We take it from there. We will deliver it to the processor, we will test it.”
A Paul’s Pantry survey showed 80% of their shoppers purchase venison when in stock.
Jeff Pritzl says, “think about those in your community that would appreciate some venison and hunt for your community as well as yourself.”
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