Georgia Hunters for the Hungry collection begins earlier than ever; 7 sites available

The Georgia Hunters for the Hungry (GHFTH) is a program through which harvested deer become nutritious venison to benefit those who need it the most. Hunters donated more than 733 deer during the 2005 collection and in total, more than 170,000 pounds of venison have been donated since the program began in 1993, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).

Hunters can donate deer in one of two ways - at one of seven weekend collection sites that will be available on November 25-26, 2006, and from September 9, 2006-January 1, 2007, at seven additional collection sites hosted by deer processors.

"The Georgia Hunters for the Hungry program is an opportunity to show the positive aspects of hunting - providing a very nutritious, low-fat meal for those who need it," says WRD Director Dan Forster. "Our agency is very proud to be a part of this program and to work with the many partners who make it possible each year."

Hunters interested in participating in GHFTH should take field-dressed deer to any of the drop-off locations

listed below. All hunters who donate a deer during this collection period will be entered into a drawing for a deer rifle, sponsored by the Georgia Wildlife Federation.

The following seven locations will be available between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. on November 25-26, 2006:

Social Circle WRD Fish Hatchery on Hwy. 278 (1.5 miles north of Exit 101 off I-20)

Lexington Oglethorpe County Farmer's Market on U.S. Hwy 78 Newnan Royal Baptist Church (Hwy. 34 bypass North to Royal Mayo Drive) Pendergrass Boy Scouts of America (Hwy. 129 North 1 mile from I-85)

Rockmart Lamar's Sports Center (392 Atlanta

Highway)

Rome Lavender Mountain Hardware (4065 Martha Berry Hwy., NW)

Richmond Hill

Plantation Lumber &

Hardware (10829 Ford

Ave.)

The following seven

locations will accept deer

from Sept. 9, 2006 Jan. 1, 2007 during business hours:

Hoboken Big Creek Sausage Co., Inc., Rt. 1, Box 146-A, (912) 458-2120

Jefferson Sealey's Deer Cooler, 5675 South Apple Valley Road, (706) 335-9304

Sparta Garner's Grinder, Rt. 3, Box 464-2, (706) 444-9228

Columbus Daffin's Meat Processing, 4100 1/2 River Bend Road, (706) 322-8848

Irwinton Starley's Deer Processing, 190 George Hatcher Road, (478) 946-8976

Vidalia Stewart's Quality Meats, 204 Washington Street, (912) 537-9888

Tifton Safety-Rite Foods, 147 South Rodge Avenue, (229) 3821242

GHFTH Sponsors are: Georgia DNR/Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Wildlife Federation, Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia's Outdoor Adventures and the Georgia State Association of Food Banks.

For more information on donating game to those in need during other times of the year, call the Atlanta Community Food Bank at (404) 892-FEED. For more information on the GHFTH program, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com , contact a WRD Game Management Office or call (770) 761-3044.

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