Hunters, Processors Pitch in for the Needy in Our Region.

from 2021 Hunting Guide

Hog Invasion a Problem Across Texas

Hunters for the Hungry Helps Those in Need

Hunters who want to help others and not see their sport go to waste this season can donate the meat they harvest to a program that helps the needy.

“Hunters for the Hungry” is a statewide program associated with Feeding Texas, formerly the Texas Food Bank Network.

The program helps ease hunger in the state through donated meat.

Since its inception in 1997, the program has provided more than 2.6 million pounds of meat — over 10 million servings — to hungry Texans. Last year, food banks distributed more than 145,093 pounds of meat or 580,372 servings to the hungry.

The program connects a hunter with participating deer/meat processors and the meat is distributed through food banks.

Although it doesn’t donate to individuals, those in need of food should call 211, visit www.211texas. org or contact a food assistance provider directly.

Gillespie County processors accepting donations for this season include: •Rabke’s Table Ready Meats, 3875 Eckert Road, Willow City; 830-685-3266.

Other participating processors in the Hill Country area include one in Kerr County: •Milton Bernhard Meat Processing, 2920 Junction Highway, Ingram; 830-367-2995.

For a complete list of Texas processors, visit the website of the Hunters for the Hungry sponsor, the Texas Association of Community Action Agencies, Inc., (TACAA) at: www.feedingtexas.org/ get-involved/hunt and click on the hyperlink “participating meat processors.”

To donate deer for the Hunters for the Hungry program, hunters should bring their legally tagged and field dressed deer to a participating meat processor.

There is no processing fee this year as meat processors are reimbursed through donations from hunters who donate when purchasing hunting and fishing licenses or through online donations.

The participating meat processor will then prepare the meat and get it to a local food assistance provider.

Other wild game will not be accepted by processors for this program. Hunters for the Hungry cannot accept meat that has already been processed, but can help find a food assistance provider who may be able to accept it directly.

Another Hill Country processor participating in a similar program is Schneider’s Deer Processing.

Owner Greg Schneider processes about 20-25 deer that are donated and once processed, donates the meat to the Fredericksburg Food Pantry and other area churches.

Schneider’s is located at 731 Mustang Street in Fredericksburg.

Call 990-0420 for more information.

More information about the Hunters for the Hungry program is available by calling 512-527-3613 or email hfth@tfbn.org.