DNREC Fish and Wildlife announces butcher shops processing Sportsmen Venison Donations
Sunday, September 21, 2014
for 2014-15 season
DOVER (Sept. 18, 2014) – DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife today announced the list of private butcher shops accepting donated deer for processing for the state’s Sportsmen Against Hunger Program during the 2014-2015 Delaware deer hunting season. All donated venison will be distributed to charitable groups participating in the program.
Last year, 21,223 pounds of venison from 645 deer donated by hunters was divided among 31 food pantries and shelters statewide, providing more than 100,000 meals for hungry Delawareans. Since it began in 1992, the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Sportsmen Against Hunger program has provided more than 1.7 million meals for needy Delawareans.
Successful hunters can take their deer directly to any of the participating private butcher shops found throughout the state, or they may drop off their deer at any of the DNREC-maintained walk-in coolers, both listed below.
Cooperating Butcher Shops
Sussex County
Johnson’s Custom Cutting Dave’s Cut ‘Em Up
21404 Burton Road 6854 Delmar Road
Milton, DE 19968 Delmar, DE 19940
Mark’s Meats & More
24910 Hollyville Road
Millsboro, DE 19966
Kent County
Miller’s Butcher Shop D&J Custom Cutting
577 Morgans Choice Road 89 Myers Drive
Wyoming, DE 19934 Hartly, DE 19953
New Castle County
Bobby’s Deer Butcher Shop Marks Butcher Shop
1084 Bethel Church Road 7296 Grantham Lane (River Road Ind. Park)
Middletown, DE 19709 New Castle, DE 19720
Townsend Deer Butchering Cedar Hill Custom Deer Cutting
1300 Dexter Corner Road 738 Paddock Road
Townsend, DE 19734 Smyrna, DE 19977
DNREC-maintained coolers for donated deer
Sussex County
Assawoman Wildlife Area, Frankford
Gumboro Community Center, Millsboro
Redden State Forest Headquarters, Georgetown
Trap Pond State Park, Laurel
Kent County
Woodland Beach Wildlife Area, Smyrna
Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area, Viola
Mosquito Control Office, Milford
New Castle County
Augustine Wildlife Area, Port Penn
NOTE:This cooler is temporarily unavailable; replacement anticipated.
These coolers are checked periodically, and donated deer are taken to the Sussex Correctional Institution’s deer butchering program, or to participating private butcher shops, where they are processed. If a hunter donates a deer, the Division of Fish and Wildlife requests that the hunter please call the phone number posted on the cooler, so that the deer is transported for processing in a timely manner.
Any deer dropped off at a cooler must be field-dressed and registered, with the registration number written on the field tag attached to the animal.
All deer taken in Delaware must be registered through the Division of Fish and 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 have the option to call 855-DELHUNT (855-335-4868). This year, 20 hunters or trappers who access the system online rather than making a phone call will be randomly selected throughout the season to receive a donated $50 gift card to Cabela’s.
For more information on hunting in Delaware, click 2014-2015 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. For information about the HTR system and gift card lottery, see page 20. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and from license agents throughout the state.
For more information on the Sportsmen Against Hunger Program, please visit Sportsmen Against Hunger, or contact Wayne Lehman, Kent County Regional Wildlife Manager, 302-284-1077. For deer information, please contact Joe Rogerson, Fish and Wildlife Game Mammal Biologist, at 302-735-3600.