Nov 15, 2025 4 min read

By Dave Bates

For the Observer-Reporter

Too rarely in my column do I get the pleasure of sharing such outstanding work by outstanding people. This week, I get to do precisely that. With deer season just ahead, the efforts of Hunters Sharing the Harvest could not be more timely.

What is Hunters Sharing the Harvest you ask? Well, until recently, I might have asked the same question. HSH is an organization that encourages hunters to donate a harvested deer to a participating processor and ultimately, the meat goes to a local food bank where individuals can receive healthy and nutritious venison to supplement their diet at no cost. The following is much of the information contained in a recent news release from HSH that I felt the need to pass on. It is certainly informative, and dare I say, life-changing for some, not just the recipients of venison but for those doing the hunting, processing, volunteering and administrating as well.

From the HSH website:

Pennsylvania hunters again proved their unmatched generosity by setting a record for venison donations through Hunters Sharing the Harvest. A staggering 283,789 pounds of venison was donated from 7,855 deer harvested statewide during the 2024-25 hunting seasons. The year’s donation total equates to approximately 1.1 million servings of lean, nutritious venison delivered to food-insecure individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth.

“Every year, our expectations are surpassed,” said HSH executive director Randy Ferguson. “Hunters across Pennsylvania continue to embody this notion of hunting as social service in which hunters demonstrate just how much they care about feeding families in need. These record-breaking numbers reflect not only their commitment, but also the dedication of processors, volunteers, sponsors and partners across the state.”

“We’re proud to support this impactful program that brings hunters, processors, and hunger relief organizations together to make a difference,” said HSH board chairman Bill Sordoni. “This year’s milestone demonstrates the power of collective action-and the importance of continuing to expand access to this life-changing resource.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture remains a cornerstone partner, allocating state and federal hunger relief funds to help reimburse processors who convert donated deer into ground venison for local food banks.

“Hunting and generosity are ingrained in Pennsylvania’s rural culture,” said Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Every pound of venison hunters donate through HSH stretches household budgets and nonprofit resources and combines the best of our traditions to feed our neighbors who need a leg up in difficult times.”

Thanks to supportive deer herd management by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, hunters can fill multiple tags each season. HSH gives them a meaningful reason to harvest an extra deer or two, turning a traditional outdoor pursuit into a direct social service.

“When hunters donate through HSH, they’re not only helping their neighbors in need; they’re also playing a critical role in helping to manage Pennsylvania’s deer herd,” said Steve Smith, executive director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. “This year’s record-breaking total is a testament to their generosity and commitment to their communities.”

HSH currently partners with more than 100 licensed processors across 56 counties, and the organization continues seeking new processor partners to meet growing demand. Ground venison from these processors is distributed statewide through regional food banks in partnership with Feeding Pennsylvania and Hunger-Free Pennsylvania.

“Protein-rich venison is a critical part of our hunger relief network,” said Julie Bancroft, CEO of Feeding Pennsylvania. “The relationship between our food banks and HSH helps us meet nutritional needs with a healthy, high-quality food source.”

Since its founding in 1991, HSH has provided more than three million pounds of venison – equal to more than 12 million servings – to Pennsylvanians.

“The need across Pennsylvania is at an all-time high” said Stuart Haniff, executive director of Hunger-Free Pennsylvania. “But thankfully, for our food insecure Pennsylvania neighbors, so too is the impact of programs like HSH. We are grateful and proud to stand beside them in this mission to ensure no one in the Commonwealth goes to bed hungry.”

Hunters wishing to participate need only to legally harvest, tag, and field dress a deer and drop it off at a participating processor. The current list of processors and donation resources is available at https://sharedeer.org/meat-processors.

A network of nearly 60 volunteer county coordinators helps keep the program running smoothly, supporting processors and increasing awareness in their local communities. Those interested in volunteering can visit https://sharedeer.org/get-involved.

Businesses interested in becoming HSH sponsors can reach out to Randy Ferguson at 866-474-2141 or randy@sharedeer.org. Individuals can contribute online at https://sharedeer.org/support-our-mission/.

Dave Bates writes a weekly outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at alphaomegashootingsolutions@gmail.com