With the popular deer seasons taking place in December, there’s a few programs that hunters who have extra meat should know and remember about.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Jeremy King says that the Help Us Stop Hunger program is what many hunters may know best, as it has been around for many years. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio how the program can be utilized.

“You take it to participating lockers, you can drop it off, gutted deer, you don’t have to scan anything like that and you can leave it at the locker. They will process it, grind it and give it out to people in need. That comes at a free cost to the public who needs to use it. This is a great opportunity. And locally, the closest locker we have that accepts HUSH deer is Bagley Locker in northern Guthrie County, so that is your closest option.”

King mentions that the other program open to those looking for deer meat can use is the Iowa Deer Exchange. He adds that the DNR really only acts as a middleman between the hunter and the person looking for the deer meat with this program. King explains that hunters can go to the DNR’s website, and sign into an account and log that they have meat that they are willing to part with. He says that then, the individuals who are looking for deer meat can see who is offering what, and work with them on a way to get it.