DOVER – To help successful hunters whose generosity supports DNREC’s Sportsmen Against Hunger program and provide venison for needy Delawareans, the Division of Fish & Wildlife today 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 over 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 that 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 (HTR) 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 hunting in Delaware, click on 2017-2018 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and from license agents statewide.
For more information on the Sportsmen Against Hunger Program, please visit Sportsmen Against Hunger, or contact Bill Jones, Kent County Regional Wildlife Manager, 302-284-4795. For deer information, please contact Deer and Furbearer Biologist Emily Boyd, at 302-735-3600.
Vol. 47, No. 244
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