Staff members from NRA’s Hunter Services Department recently completed a deer donation project that will supply thousands of meals to needy individuals in the Washington, D.C., area in the coming months.

Through the NRA Hunters for the Hungry Clearinghouse, and in conjunction with the Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission, Hunter Services staff assisted with the field preparation of 597 deer culled from parks and golf courses in Montgomery County, Md.

The weeklong operation focused on densely populated urban areas where the deer needed to be managed due to overpopulation and high conflicts with humans, but where public hunting could not be conducted. 

The deer were then taken to local butchers for processing, and the meat was donated to the Capital Area Food Bank. In total, that donated venison will provide approximately 120,000 – 125,000 meals for those less fortunate in the Washington metropolitan area.

“It was a very labor intensive week of work, yet very satisfying to see the outcome!” said Bob Davis, manager of NRA’s Hunter Services Department.

To learn more about how you can get involved with game sharing programs in your area, visit NRA’s Hunters for the Hungry Clearinghouse at www.nrahq.org/hunting/hunterhungry.asp.