Hunters: share the harvest

A statewide organization that helps successful deer hunters donate venison to the needy is looking for volunteers in Cameron and Potter counties.

Under the "Hunters Sharing the Harvest" program, meat is donated to families, as well as churches, food banks and social service organizations.

HSH wants to have a coordinator in each county, but those positions are empty in Potter and Cameron counties. Robert Esch of Derrick City (368-7887) is the McKean County coordinator.

Potter County currently has one HSH-registered meat cutter, Tom's Deer Processing in Galeton (435-1076). McKean County has two: Bell's Meat & Poultry in Kane (837-7321) and Bill Johnson in Eldred.

As part of the program, hunters are encouraged to take a deer to a participating meat processor and identify how much of their deer meat -- from an entire deer to several pounds -- that is to be donated to HSH. Hunters who are donating an entire deer are asked to make a $15 tax-deductible co-pay, and HSH will cover the remaining processing fees.

However, a hunter can cover the entire costs of the processing, which is tax deductible. HSH established a statewide toll-free telephone number -- 1-866-474-2141 -- for answers to hunters' questions about the program.

Additional information also can be found on the HSH website, sharedeer.org.