Share the Harvest Expands; Boone, Howard Hunters Can Donate

Hunters in Boone, Howard, Cooper and Callaway counties can donate deer to feed hungry Missourians through an expanded Share the Harvest program this season. The Missouri Department of Conservation announced the changes Oct. 23, with deer hunting already underway.

What is changing this season

Share the Harvest takes donated venison from hunters to food banks and pantries. It started in 1992 and has provided more than 6 million pounds of venison. Recent years have averaged about 5,000 donated deer, or roughly 250,000 pounds. The department wants 6,500 donated deer in the 2026 season and 10,000 in 2027. It says nearly 800,000 Missourians were food insecure in 2025.

This season the program is trying several pilots:

• Refrigerated coolers at select locations, for easier drop-offs.
• No required donation fees for hunters.
• Higher reimbursements for the processors who handle the deer.

The program will also record the county where a deer was taken instead of the exact spot. Deer harvested within 10 miles of a confirmed chronic wasting disease detection will be tested before the meat is distributed. The department says that testing supports public health recommendations and is not meant to track the spread of the disease.

How to donate

A hunter takes a whole, field-dressed deer to an approved Share the Harvest meat processor and fills out a short form there. Donating is free, though voluntary contributions are welcome. The processor prepares the venison, which goes out through local food banks and pantries. The department keeps a processor lookup at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/share-harvest/share-harvest-meat-processor-lookup, and more information is at mdc.mo.gov/share. The release does not say which processors or coolers are in our four counties, so check the lookup for the nearest one.

Where to find venison

People who want venison should contact a local food bank or pantry about availability. Rocheport Times has a guide to pantries in Cooper, Howard and Boone counties. For hunters, our earlier piece covers what to know as deer season opens.