It is free for hunters to donate a deer; no processing cost for the hunter

COLUMBUS, OH – With the opening day of Ohio's deer-gun season on November 30, hunters are reminded that donating a deer is free at meat processors participating in the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) venison donation program.

Participating meat processors can be found by visiting the FHFH page at www.fhfh.org.

Although venison donations are accepted any day during the deer hunting season, September 26 – February 7, 2010, Saturday, December 5 has been designated as FHFH Day. Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Chief Dave Graham challenges all deer hunters to make this year special for Ohio's hungry. Last year, hunters showed they cared by donating nearly 220,000 meals to Ohioans in need.

"I personally challenge Ohio's hunters to double that number this year and to help us all to remember to make the donations. I'm going to label Saturday, December 5, as Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry Day," said Chief Graham. "I will try to take a doe that day and I'll donate it to the FHFH program."

The FHFH Web site also allows people to donate cash that will supplement the funds being raised to help pay for processing the meat.

Between 2003 and 2008, women who hunted with firearms increased 3.5 percent to 2.9 million, according to new data from the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA). Women who participated in bowhunting rose 1.5 percent to 600,000 during that time.

And according to the Shreveport Times, Louisiana can attest to the recent rise in female participation. This year alone, the number of women with hunting licenses jumped 12 percent there when compared to 2007-08.