Hunters sharing the harvest

MILFORD - The “Hunters Sharing the Harvest” (HSH) program is in its 15th year and hunters can participate to supply venison to food banks in Pike County by donating a whole or portion of a deer and minimal financial contribution toward processing costs. Hunters can donate a deer to the HSH program at one of these processors: in Pike County: • Prime Time Meats on Routes 6 & 209 in Milford, 570-296-6064; • Brad’s “All American” Bear and Deer Butcher Shop, 107 Fowler Lane, 6 Miles West of Milford, 570-296-8672 or cell phone 914-443-2362; • HLF & Sons Butcher Shop, 1 Old Schoolhouse Rd. in Greentown, 570-676-9452. John Crerand, in his volunteer position, manages the venison-sharing program in Pike and Monroe Counties to coordinate distribution of meat to food banks and contacting area meat processors and butchers, who play an important part in the donation project. The experienced meat cutters prepare and package the meat under sanitary conditions for food bank use. The program operates in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Both agencies provide funds to help HSH pay for processing whole deer. With the cost of processing underwritten, hunters could donate their second or third deer to the program. Hunters pay the first $15 to the meat processor when dropping off their deer to help defray cutting and packaging costs of their donated whole deer. Or, hunters can pay the total cost of processing and donate a portion of the meat. Hunters and others interested in feeding the hungry can also donate “A Buck for the Pot” to help pay whole-deer processing costs. The HSH venison-sharing project was initiated in 1991 by Pennsylvanians for the Responsible Use of Animals (PRUA). The program is a coalition of Pennsylvania associations and individuals representing agriculture, biomedicine, entertainment, sports and hunting groups. The umbrella organization encourages humane treatment of animals used for food, clothing and biomedical research, sport and entertainment. For more information about the HSH program or to inquire about making donations, contact Crerand at 570-686-7611, by email tacco@ptd.net, or visit the website www.QDMAPikeCountyPa.com hosted by the Pike County Quality Deer Management Association.