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Butchers, coolers announced for Sportsmen Against Hunger program

November 18, 2017

To help successful hunters whose generosity supports DNREC’s Sportsmen Against Hunger program and provides venison for needy Delawareans, the Division of Fish & Wildlife announced the list of private butcher shops accepting donated deer during the state’s 2017-18 deer hunting season. All donated venison will be distributed to charitable groups participating in the program.

Last year, 18,154 pounds of venison from 631 deer donated by hunters was divided among 32 food pantries and shelters statewide, providing 72,616 meals. Since it began in 1992, the Sportsmen Against Hunger program has provided more than 2 million meals for Delawareans in need.

Successful hunters can take their deer directly to participating private butcher shops, or they may drop off their deer at any of the DNREC-maintained walk-in coolers listed below.  

Participating Butcher Shops 

Sussex County

Dave’s Cut ‘Em Up, 6854 Delmar Road, Delmar, DE 19940, 302-381-7257

Kent County

Miller’s Butcher Shop, 577 Morgans Choice Road, Wyoming, DE 19934, 302-697-8278

D&J Custom Cutting, 89 Myers Drive, Hartly, DE 19953, 302-492-0323

New Castle County

Townsend Deer Butchering, 1300 Dexter Corner Road, Townsend, DE 19734, 302-378-3268

DNREC-maintained coolers for donated deer

Sussex County

Assawoman Wildlife Area, 37604 Mulberry Landing Road, Frankford, DE 19945

Gumboro Community Center, 36849 Millsboro Highway, Millsboro, DE 19966

Redden State Forest Headquarters, 18074 Redden Forest Drive, Georgetown, DE 19947

Trap Pond State Park, 33587 Bald Cypress Lane, Laurel, DE 19956

Kent County

Woodland Beach Wildlife Area, 4876 Hay Point Landing Road, Smyrna, DE 19977

Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area, 782 Kersey Road, Viola, DE 19979

Mosquito Control Office, 1161 Airport Road, Milford, DE 19963

New Castle County

Augustine Wildlife Area, 303 North Congress Street, Port Penn, DE 19731

Hunters donating deer at a DNREC-maintained cooler are asked to call the phone number posted on the cooler so the deer can be transported for processing in a timely manner. Hunters are reminded that any deer dropped off at a cooler also must be field-dressed and registered by the hunter donating it, with the registration number written on the field tag attached to the animal. Coolers are checked frequently, with donated deer taken to the Sussex Correctional Institution’s deer butchering program or to participating private butcher shops for processing. 

All deer harvested in Delaware, including donated deer, must be registered through the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Hunter and Trapper Registration system. Deer hunters are encouraged to access the system online using a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/delhunt. Those who prefer to talk to a live customer service representative can call 855-DELHUNT (855-335-4868).

For more information on the Sportsmen Against Hunger Program, contact Kent County Regional Wildlife Manager Bill Jones at 302-284-4795. For deer information, contact deer and furbearer biologist Emily Boyd at 302-735-3600.

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