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Venison can be donated locally

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General hunting season for white-tailed deer ended last weekend, but antlerless deer and spikes can be harvested until Jan. 20, and a special Youth-Only Season also extends through that same weekend.

Local hunters who harvest more venison than they intend to use are being encouraged to donate their extra bounty to Hunters for the Hungry, with distribution being handled locally through the Albany Masonic Lodge.

Locally, field-dressed deer can be dropped off at Rocker B Taxidermy, along with the required $40 processing fee, during regular business hours.

Donated deer are processed by Stephens Wild Game Processing of Abilene, and then Stephen Kayga coordinates delivery to needy families in Shackelford County.

“In the past, meat was taken to Abilene at the end of the season, but Stephens Processing wanted our county to have the opportunity to give it locally,” said Kayga. “And their $40 processing fee is a bargain.”

Only five deer have been donated since the hunting season began.

“That meat has already been disbursed throughout our community, and more families have requested venison,” said Kayga. “We’d like to be able to give more.” 

One deer can produce 50 pounds of meat.

“The idea is for the person donating the deer to pay for the processing fee, but there may be some non-hunters here who would like to help out with that,” Kayga said. “There have been some churches and other organizations that have helped, but that takes money of their budgets, so if you’re willing to donate to this cause, please contact me.”

He asked that those who need more information or who want to help call him at 325-665-5055.

“Please leave a message that includes your name, number, and the purpose of the call so that I can get back to you in a timely manner,” said Kayga.

In addition to donations to offset the processing fee, he encouraged hunters who do not need all the animals they harvest to participate.

“Since this is Youth Only Season, this would be an especially good lesson for our children and other younger hunters, to learn to give to others who might need it more,” Kayga concluded.