Share the Harvest

WRVEC has teamed up with the Missouri Conservation Department and the Conservation Federation of Missouri for Share the Harvest, a program that provides an easy way for hunters to donate venison to Missourians in need.

The program works by deer hunters donating their extra venison — from several pounds to whole deer — to participating meat processors throughout the state who grind and package the deer meat. The packaged venison is then given to local food banks and food pantries for distribution to Missourians in need of food assistance.

Many families and individuals have no dependable source of protein in their diets. Share the Harvest can help provide those in need with high-quality protein in the form of naturally lean, locally harvested deer meat.

Thousands of Missouri deer hunters donated more than 259,400 pounds of venison to the state’s Share the Harvest program last deer season, including 4,855 whole deer. Since the program began in 1992, Share the Harvest has provided more than 4 million pounds of lean, healthy venison to help feed hungry Missourians.

During season, WRVEC and The Conservation Federation of Missouri pay the processing costs for deer that are donated to the Oldfield Packing Plant by hunters in our five-county service territory.

When can I donate?

Members can donate throughout deer season, which takes place September 15 through January 15.

How much does it cost?

It cost nothing to participate! All you have to do is drop off the deer at Oldfield Packing Plant. We will take care of the rest.