Hunting for the Hungry
Hunting for the hungry is an effort among the hunters, sportsmen’s associations, state meat inspectors, and hunger relief organizations to help feed those in need. Such programs have brought hundreds of thousands of pounds of venison to the homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and food banks . Our program as the "Wildlife Firm" is to localize, simplify, and help ranch/food bank communication for those who are in need.
The white-tail deer is the most sought after game species in Texas. Many hunters and anglers hunt and scout each and every fall to have chance just to harvest these elegant animals. South Texas is a prime example for this tradition. Many people are unaware that to keep a healthy and desirable deer population, deer must be removed from an area to prevent overpopulation. Our program “Hunting for the Hungry” is a nonprofit organization which helps ranchers/ranches distributes excess deer meat to those in need. With the overabundance a whitetail deer harvested during the fall and winter months we can help suppress the hunger of the homeless and families in need. By transferring deer from the Callaghan and Killiam Ranches, we intend to start helping the Laredo area food banks, families, and individuals. Due to these ranches large acreage the supply of deer meat is virtually renewable by each year. Even though deer are given to people in and around Laredo by both these ranches, this system is unorganized. Through a strategic planning system, The Wildlife Firm plans to maximize the utilization of harvested deer with cooperation of these two ranches. Furthermore, we plan to contact other ranches in the Gulf coastal region of south Texas to promote our nonprofit organization. Organizing communication and pick up points are one of the key roles for our project.
The communication between the supplier of the harvested doe's and the processing plant, is one that must be very sharp and well defined to prevent any misunderstandings that would result in hard feelings between processors, hunters, ranches that may donate the deer, or food banks. this could create a "false shortage" of protein for the needy that the supply is meant to feed. There are several different options to consider; The does can be transported by myself, one of my comrades ( if the location for both pickup and delivery are within the community or somewhat near in order to prevent excess fuel costs), or a hunter that harvested the animal from the ranch can transport the deer to the processing plant. Once the deer are safely deposited in the plant the process can begin. For a small processing fee of between forty and forty five dollars depending on choice of processor. Once the deer have been fully processed into kitchen ready fare, the food bank can take over from there. The meat will most likely be added to large batches of casserole, spaghetti or other mass produced table fare that can fill the stomachs of numerous people in need. Educating people on how to clean their deer once they have it will be a priority as well. This information can benefit those in need who can not afford to have their deer processed by a commercial company.
A Few Tips to Processing and Cleaning Your Deer:
Prior to a deer has been harvested and tagged, the next step is to field dress the deer. This process will remove the spleen and some of the lymph nodes near the internal organs. Hunters should always wear rubber or latex gloves while processing game animals to protect themselves from a variety of diseases that can potentially pass to humans. Next, the hide must be removed. Although there are many ways to skin a deer, hanging the carcass from the hind legs and skinning down toward the head will allow the weight of the hide and head to assist the hunter when severing the spinal column, and minimize the chances of getting spinal fluid on the rest of the carcass. When severing the spinal column, use a knife designated solely for this purpose, inserting the tip of the blade between the vertebrae, cutting the cartilaginous tissue while prying apart the vertebrae. Once the internal organs, hide and head are removed, the carcass is ready to be quartered for storage and transportation in an ice chest if necessary. When quartering the carcass, the hind legs should be removed by placing the tip of the knife in the hip socket, and working it around the ball joint, cutting cartilage until the leg bone can be easily separated from the hip socket. Do not cut the bone. When the carcass has reached the final destination, the process of “boning out” the meat can begin. Afterwards For processing commercially the fee generally about $30-$40, helps to cover the costs of the processor’s equipment, labor, and overhead. The processing fee may be tax deductible for the hunter; consult a tax advisor for information. The processor provides a receipt for such purpose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzJotcnE7Xo&feature=g-crec (Cleaning Video)
Tips to Prepare your venison:
Once the wild game has been field dressed, quartered, or processed, there are several ways to prepare it. From the processor you can get it several different ways; Steaks, ground, jerky, summer sausage, breakfast sausage, regular sausage, jalapeno cheese sausage, and beef
stick, etc. The steaks that come prepackaged and tenderized from the processor are great when you marinade them over night and then throw them on the grill. Venison steaks are a leaner and healthier for you then beef. The ground venison can be browned in a skillet and added to any meal in the place of ground beef. It goes great in chili, spaghetti, meatloaf, and just about anything that you would put ground beef in. Another great way to prepare venison is to make jerky. People have been making jerky since the beginning of time, and it is still highly popular
practice today. My favorite by far has to be the jalapeno cheese sausage by far. There are so many different ways to prepare wild game; I have only named a fraction here. Preparing wild game is an art form that has been practiced since the dawn of man, there is no right or wrong way to go about it. Just roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty.
Local processing companies:
Hibler Wild Game Processing
207 S 5th St, Kingsville, TX 78363
(361) 221-9747
El Campo Deer & Game Processing
1400 E Corral Ave, Kingsville, TX 78363
(361) 592-3121
3A H Processing
9733 Leopard St, Corpus Christi, TX 78410
(361) 241-0004
Hausman Foods
2341 Pearse Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78415
(361) 814-5329
A & A Custom Processing
3057 1/2 Greenwood Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78405
(361) 888-9480
Letter to Ranch Owner
Blake Martin
12-1-2012
Dear Mrs. Finely,
I would like to take a moment of your time to explain a proposed
non-profit plan to help suppress hunger during this holiday season.
With the cooperation of the “Callaghan Ranch” our nonprofit group “The
Wildlife Firm” would like to help relocate excess harvested deer during hunting
season from your ranch to the food bank in Laredo.
Also, deliver harvested deer to local families and individuals in the
Laredo area. By doing this we can
benefit the hungry and help the ranch to dispose of the excess
meat.
We feel it is necessary to give back to the Laredo community during this
holiday season. We hope you will
allow us to do this generosity for those people in
need.
I greatly appreciate this opportunity to apply for this writing
position. Thank you for your time
and consideration.
Sincerely,
The Wildlife Firm
12-1-2012
Dear Mrs. Finely,
I would like to take a moment of your time to explain a proposed
non-profit plan to help suppress hunger during this holiday season.
With the cooperation of the “Callaghan Ranch” our nonprofit group “The
Wildlife Firm” would like to help relocate excess harvested deer during hunting
season from your ranch to the food bank in Laredo.
Also, deliver harvested deer to local families and individuals in the
Laredo area. By doing this we can
benefit the hungry and help the ranch to dispose of the excess
meat.
We feel it is necessary to give back to the Laredo community during this
holiday season. We hope you will
allow us to do this generosity for those people in
need.
I greatly appreciate this opportunity to apply for this writing
position. Thank you for your time
and consideration.
Sincerely,
The Wildlife Firm