Deer hunters feed the hungry for seventh year

GAINESVILLE - Deer hunters who donated some of the animals they harvested this past fall helped to solve two problems in the North Georgia area.

Wildlife biologist Kent Kammermeyer, who works with the Lanier Chapter of Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) and Southern Heritage Land Company as part of the national Hunters for the Hungry program, said hunters donated enough venison this season to supply 10 area agencies with food for the needy.

He said the 2011 effort also helped control the deer population in the city limits of Gainesville.

"There's pretty severe deer overpopulation on Riverside Drive in Gainesville, and I know for a fact that several of the deer that were donated came from Riverside Drive," said Kammermeyer.

Private property on a portion of Riverside Military Academy was open for two limited hunts over the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks for cadets.

Kammermeyer said they distributed the last of the donations from the 2011 cooperative effort earlier this month. In the seven years the two groups have participated in Hunters for the Hungry, hunters have donated more than 16,000 lbs. of venison to hungry families in North Georgia.

"That's eight tons...kind of unbelievable...and that represents almost 80,000 meals for needy people," said Kammermeyer.

North Georgia Processing in Lula processed and packaged the venison for distribution to 10 charities this year, according to Kammermeyer.

He said he expects the two groups to continue the program in the fall of 2012.