Press Release

Alabama Hunters Play a Vital Role in Feeding the Hungry

October 23, 2006

As the 2006-07 deer season opens, hunters are encouraged to provide food to needy families by participating in Hunters Helping the Hungry. The Hunters Helping the Hungry program provides thousands of pounds of ground venison to area food banks. Food banks then donate the processed venison to help feed needy families. Since the program began in 1999, more than 319,000 pounds of ground venison has been donated to Alabama food banks statewide.

Hunters Helping the Hungry began as a joint effort of the Governor’s Office, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Alabama Conservation and Natural Resources Foundation, the National Rifle Association and the Phillip Morris Company. Today, the program is sustained by annual fundraiser quail hunts hosted by the Governor.

 “Thanks to the generosity of hunters, the amount of donated venison increased from 8,000 pounds in 1999 to over 57,000 pounds last season. Donating food to the needy is just one of the many ways hunters contribute to our state,” said Gov. Bob Riley. “The number of hunters donating harvested animals increases each year but more food is needed. I encourage every deer hunter to donate at least one deer to Hunters Helping the Hungry this season.”

The combination of Alabama’s long hunting season, dense deer population and generous bag limit provides ample opportunity for hunters to put food on their own tables as well the tables of those less fortunate. There is no charge to the hunter for processing the deer. Forty-one processors throughout the state participate in the program and more are being added to the list each season.

How Hunters Helping the Hungry Works

·         Hunters field dress the deer and take it to a participating processor. A list of deer processors is available at www.outdooralabama.com. The hunter is not charged to donate the venison, but hunters may voluntarily pay processing fees to provide more venison for food banks to distribute.

·         The deer is processed into ground venison, packaged and frozen in quantities not exceeding four pounds each. The process venison is distributed to the nearest participating food bank. The processor receives $1 per pound from the Alabama Conservation and Natural Resources Foundation for their labors.

·          The food bank picks up the venison for distribution to those in need.

Deer processors not participating in Hunters Helping the Hungry are asked to call (334) 242-3467 for more information or to sign on as a participating processor.

The current list of participating processors and their locations by county are:

1. Bibb County-Owens Deer Processing/Timothy Ryan Owens, P O Box 118, Brent, AL 35034 205-926-5461
2. Calhoun County-Jerry's Taxidermy & Deer Processing/Jerry Cunningham, 46 Roberts St., Oxford, AL 36203 256-835-3336
3. Chilton County-Ratliff Deer Processing/Cecil Ratliff, 4445 Co Rd 15, Maplesville, AL 36750 334-366-4553
4. Chilton County-Reed's Meat Processing/Warren Maddox, 510 Dunlap Drive, Clanton, AL 35045 205-755-5392
5. Clarke County-Green's Deer Processing/Fred T. Green, 35 Wiggins Rd., Jackson, AL 36545 251-275-8213
6. Clarke County-Southern Taxidermy & Deer Processing/ Jimmy E. Paul, 13510 Hwy 43, Grove Hill, AL 36451 251-275-8505
7. Coffee County-Elba Custom Meat Company, Inc./Billy F. Hudson, State Rd. 203 Box 405, Elba, AL 36323 334-897-2007
8. Coffee County-Smokehouse/Steve Hawthorne, 1230 Co Rd 20, Kinston, AL 36453 334-565-3954
9. Colbert County-O'Guirre Farm/Glen Rickard, 105 County Farm Rd., Tuscumbia, AL 35674 256-383-3190
10. Covington County-Nelson Meat Company/Lamar Nelson, 22613 County Road 81, Andalusia, AL 36420 334-493-7679
11. Cullman County-Brickyard Farm & Processing/Ernest Graveman, 257 Co Rd 471, Cullman, AL 35055 256-739-6615
12. Dale County-Jimmies Smoke House/Jimmy Dasinger, Box 143, Midland City, AL 36350 334-983-4281
13. Dallas County-Central Alabama Deer Processing/Jamey Lee Lewis, 108 Co Rd 477, Selma, AL 36701 334-418-8560
14. Dallas County-Nichols Deer Processing/William A. Frith, 528 Jeff Davis Ave., Selma, AL 36701 334-875-1333
15. DeKalb County-Smith's Deer Processing/Keith & Kellie Smith, 319 Star Rd., Fort Payne, AL 35968 256-638-2168
16. Franklin County-Hester Deer Processing/Alta Rebecca Hester, 2455 Hwy 524, Russellville, AL 35653 256-332-4873
17. Hale County-Richey's Deer Processing/James E. Richey, 2050 State St., Greensboro, AL 36744 334-624-1403
18. Hale County-Stump Hollow Deer Processing/Darrell Cook, 29256 AL Hwy. 25, Greensboro, AL 36744 334-624-4248
19. Jackson County-Anderson Deer Processing/Robert Anderson, 2574 Co. Rd. 53, Stevenson, AL 35772 256-574-4175
20. Lamar County-Chop's Deer Processing/Gwen McGee, 3650 County Road 10, Millport, AL 35576 205-662-3752
21. Lauderdale County-Florence Frozen Meat/Phillip W. Martin, 1050 So. Court St., Florence, AL 35630 256-766-2786
22. Lauderdale County-The Rut Custom Deer Processing/Michael Parker 168 Co Rd 290, Florence, AL 35633 256-767-2960
23. Lawrence County-Don Heap's Slaughterhouse/Don Heaps, 4455 Co Rd 214, Trinity, AL 35673 256-974-6416
24. Lee County-John's Deer Processing/John Ford, 1125 Lee Road 147, Opelika, AL 36804 334-749-4750
25. Lee County-Loachapoka Deer Processing/Lee P. Hodge, 141 Lee Rd 667, Auburn, AL 36832 334-887-0108
26. Limestone County-Clarks Deer Processing/Ray Clark, 24941 Cabbage Ridge Rd., Elkmont, AL 35620 256-232-8331
27. Madison County-Digital Printing Innovations, Inc./Marcus Hamilton, 8974 Hwy 4315, Owen Cross Roads, AL 35763 256-426-8247
28. Madison County-Hang 'EM High Deer Processing/Chris Coultas, 314 Rubye Lane, Gurley, AL 35748 256-508-7192
29. Madison County-Rocket City Meats & Seafood/Billy R. Phillips, 2205 Meridian St., Huntsville, AL 35811 256-533-9744
30. Marengo County-Douglas Peteet Deer Processing/H. Douglas Peteet, 800 Old Locke 3 Road, Demopolis, AL 36732 334-289-4919
31. Mobile County-Naman's Meat Company/Chris Naman, 8400 Airport Blvd., Mobile, AL 36608 251-633-2700
32. Montgomery County-Alabama Meat Processors/George McMillan, 2213 West Blvd., Montgomery, AL 36108 334-263-2884
33. Montgomery County-Quick Drop/James M. Pugh, Jr., 8342 Chadburn Way, Montgomery, AL 36116 334-584-7556
34. Montgomery County-Spivey Deer Processing/Wayne Spivey, 1730 West Blvd., Montgomery, AL 36108 334-262-6762
35. Montgomery County-Sportsman Deer Processing/Brandon Self, 12374 U S Hwy 331 S, Montgomery, AL 36105 334-288-8989
36. Pickens County-Clark's Deer Processing/J. Larry Clark, 2114 Bonner Mill Dr., Carrollton, AL 35447 205-373-3523
37. Russell County-Hudson's Deer Processing/Jason D. Hudson, POB 545, 246 Long St., Hurtsboro, AL 36860 334-667-7383
38. Russell County-Millirons Deer Processing/Gearal Millirons, 95 Kirkland Rd., Seale, AL 36875 334-297-0576
39. Russell County-Seminole Deer Processing/James W. Lumpkin, 3746 Opelika Rd., Phenix City, AL 36870 334-298-1704
40. Talladega County-Deer Run Processing/ Jerry Cox, 206 Deer Run Drive, Sylacauga, AL 35150 256-249-1130
41. Washington County-Douglas Deer Processing/Richard A. Douglas, 413 Portis Ave, Jackson, AL 36545 251-246-7694 

Anyone wishing to make a donation to help fund this program may send a check or money order to the Alabama Conservation and Natural Resources Foundation, P. O. Box 140, Montgomery AL 36101-0140. Hunters Helping the Hungry should be denoted on the check.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com.

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