From Oct. 15 to Dec. 15 this year, the Alberta Hunters Sharing the Harvest program is requesting donations of big game meat for the Mountain View Food Bank.
Hunters do not have to pay any additional costs for donating or processing the meat as the program covers all costs associated with butchering.
All items dropped off at these local participating meat processors will go to the Mountain View County food bank: Savory Meats in Sundre and Kerik's Meat Market in Olds.
The program is made possible by the partnership of Hunters Sharing the Harvest, local food banks and Sundre-Olds Fish and Wildlife officers.
This is the seventh year running in our area and everyone is hopeful for an increase in donations over the previous five years. In the 2018 harvest season, provincially 285,000 pounds of various big game animals were accepted by food banks.
All donations are inspected by a Fish and Wildlife officer to ensure overall animal health.
If you are a hunter interested in sharing your harvest, please follow these requirements:
• Deer, elk or moose are the only game eligible to be donated.
• Animals must be field dressed immediately after harvest. The heart, lungs and liver must accompany the carcass in a separate appropriate container including the hunter’s tag number. Any abnormal tissues found must also be noted and brought in to the meat processor for examination.
• If the animal is skinned, it must be wrapped in a clean, porous covering during transportation to a meat processing facility.
• The carcasses must be transported to a participating meat processing plant within 72 hours of harvest. No completely frozen carcasses will be accepted.
Another way to contribute is by making a monetary donation as the funds will be used to cover butchering costs.
Those wishing to participate in the program can call the 24-hour information line at 1-780-443-6006. More information can also be found in the Alberta Hunting Regulations or at www.huntingfortomorrow.com
Darren McInnes is a Sundre-Olds Fish and Wildlife officer.