Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced Tuesday that the county will be launching a new program that will provide venison to local food banks.
The program is being launched as an effort to reduce the growing deer population in the area and address food insecurity concerns.
“The pandemic has hampered our previously scheduled deer management shoots, and the overpopulation of deer in areas of our county continues to be an issue for farmers and residents,” Ball said. “Moreover, amid economic challenges, food insecurity has become more substantial for many of our residents.”
Any hunter in Howard County will be able to participate in the program by donating deer to Clint’s Cuts of Mt Airy, KS Kuts in Damascus, or M & G Wild Game Processing in Westminster.
The program will be partnering with the Howard Soil Conservation District and Howard County Economic Development Authority. The program is being funded with $17,000 of the county’s allocation of federal CARES Act money.
“Utilizing the bounty while helping others is a true opportunity that local hunters are embracing,” said Kathy Johnson, director of Agriculture Business Development for the EDA. “It is my hope that this program will continue for many years.”
–Kayla Hunt