Have you ever wanted venison but didn’t know someone who hunts, or didn’t know where you could get it?
Whether it’s jerky or sausage, quartered or whole, consumers wanting venison can now connect with hunters who are willing to supply it through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ new, free online Deer Exchange.
Here’s how it works. Hunters can enter their information into the online database and consumers can choose the product they want when they register. Hunters may also set the length of time the offer is open and may opt out at any time by contacting the Iowa DNR.
The hunter and consumer work out the transfer details. Donors are responsible for reporting the harvest and for the proper care of the deer from the field to the recipient. It is illegal to sell venison in Iowa, according to the DNR.
In a news release, Todd Bishop, the chief of the DNR’s Wildlife Bureau, said the Deer Exchange is an exciting opportunity to connect consumers and hunters as a way to “provide high quality, lean protein directly to those who want it.”
Bishop told the Business Record that one goal of the program is to expand the base of customers wanting venison. He said it’s not usual for a hunter to share venison with family or a few co-workers, and that the Deer Exchange hopefully will broaden the interest in venison in Iowa.
The exchange does not replace the Help Us Stop Hunger (HUSH) program, which has 27 lockers participating so far for the upcoming deer season. The HUSH program is a collaborative effort between hunters, food pantries and the Iowa DNR.
This year’s deer hunting seasons begin later this month and continue into early January.