Hunters for the Hungary charging fees for drop off?

Well I asked my kids what I should do with the doe I killed yesterday. I told them either I could butcher it up, or I could drop it off to the Hunters for the Hungry to feed the less fortunate. They both told me I should donate the doe. I haven't donated a deer to that program in 3 seasons and I feel bad. I used to donate 1 a year for many years.

So I called the only butcher we have in the area and asked them if they participated in the program. They said "yes, but it will be a $20 fee"....huh? I asked them, "I have to pay a fee to drop off a doe that I want to donate?" Again, "yes".

What in the heck. I pay extra money each year so the state of Virginia can help subsidize those butcher shops that participate in the Hunters for the Hungry program. I am calling the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries this morning to see what the heck is going on with this junk.

Yeah yeah, I know it is HUNGRY not HUNGARY, but I am ticked!

 

That's only because they have to ship the deer meat all the way across the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Also Hungary has import fees........just messing with you Brett. lol

 

Dang it NEW! I have donated many deer over the years, but have not for 3 years or so. What in the heck is going on that I have to pay $20? And I would be driving a 30 mile round trip. I am quartering the doe up in a few minutes and giving to people at work tomorrow. Forget it.

 

That makes no sense. Amazing that charity organizations keep complaining about the decline in donations and wonder why.

 

Wow! That's crazy!

 

Yeah, it was $15.00 last year in PA. You get to make two donations.

 

Yeah it's bogus! I looked into the same deal here. First off we are asked if we wish to donate to the processing fund when we purchase a license. Then there are only a few butchers that are qualified for drop off. The butchers themselves have to go to a special class and the shop inspected to meet a certain criteria. Like a butcher is going to go through all that. Then I hear they are rejecting a ton of deer because of how it was shot or if it was shot more than once forget it it won't be accepted. I no longer will donate I just give to a few neighbors who don't hunt and they are happy to accept it. It could have been a good cause.

 

In some years I even donated two deer. That was before I was married and could only eat about 1-2 deer a year. I am at a loss about this program.

 

Is it about the principal or the $20?

 

It is about me paying $20 and having to drive a 30 mile round trip to do it. Also, I don't agree with the fact that I am "donating" a deer to the less fortunate, yet having to pay a butcher, a butcher that is being subsidized by the state via the fees I pay every single year. So I guess it is both Dan.

 

I'd be curious as to what you find out when you contact your DGIF. Sounds like the state isn't subsidizing the butchers enough and they have to make it up. Can't say I blame them.....I'm all for donating to charities, but not giving away my livelyhood to do so.

Should also add that if I didn't have anyone locally to donate it to and the butcher was not being paid enough for his services, I would have zero problem giving him an extra $20.

 

Should make an interesting discussion...

I thought it was all about the giving
http://forums.bowhunting.com/showthread.php?t=7007&highlight=donating+deer

Perhaps for some it was the convienance of getting rid of excess deer for free afterall?

(not a shot at you personally, VS, but some of us were ridiculed pretty hard for comments in the above linked thread)

 

I have killed 4 deer this year. Before the season began I set a goal of 3 does. I met that goal. I told myself when I hit that goal that I would donate a deer to the program. That simple. It takes me less than 30 minutes to quarter up a deer and then some. It is nothing to me to process a deer. I will gladly give the meat away to friends at work tomorrow, and they will eat it up.

What is the "giving"? The reason this struck me as odd is that I have donated many deer over the years and never had to pay for any of them at all. Not once since 1992.

 

It has always been my understanding that the butchers process the deer for a reduced fee but there is still a fee to process the deer. The Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry program I donate to has to pay the reduced fee. The deer is not processed for free so, even donating a deer costs the charity program money. If I remember correctly, there was one year that the program had to stop taking deer because they ran out of money to have them processed.

I have never donated a deer to the program but I give them money each year. If I were ever able to kill enough deer to have them to donate I would also pay the reduced processing fee.

It may be a nice gesture to donate a deer to the program but it still costs money to process the deer and then distribute it to those in need. There is nothing "free" until those in need receive the meat. They get "free" venison.

 

Bingo.

 

Times are tough for everyone and I doubt the charitys are receiving the monetary donations they normally would. They need to make up the deficit somehow.

 

Last one I donated I had to pay a full $55 processing fee to donate it. Didn't bother me a bit.

 

I haven't done it but it is my understanding that in IL you usually end up paying 1/2 the normal processing fee. The other half is absorbed by the processor, so they are donating also, that comes out to more than $20. Someone has to get paid for processing. I say pay the $20 dollars and be happy you did a good deed! Or find someone locally who isn't well of and give them the meat if you're butchering yourself, that way you're donating locally!

 

Same here, it costs around $50 to do.

100% agreed that nothing is "free". I think it is a great way to give back.

 

Wow, that's really stupid..you have to pay a fee to donate. There is something wrong with that.