Hunters Helping the Hungry

Generous hunters are making a difference by donating deer to the Hunters Helping the Hungry Program. This initiative, sponsored by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Section, has been providing needy families across West Virginia with thousands of pounds of nutritious venison for 32 years.

Hunters Helping the Hungry makes a difference!

2023 Totals

Total Deer Donated: 433

Total Pounds of Meat: 17,187

Meals Provided: 22,916

Cost: $60,156

Since 1992

Total Deer Donated: 29,259

Total Pounds of Meat: 1,112,271

Meals Provided: 1,495,078

Cost: $1,664,395

Impact and Success of Hunters Helping the Hungry Program

Since its inception, Hunters Helping the Hungry has processed more than 28,000 deer, resulting in more 1 million pounds of highly nutritious meat being distributed to families and individuals in need. This vital program relies on the generosity of hunters, financial contributors, and participating processors.

How Hunters Helping the Hungry Works

For Hunters: Participating hunters bring their deer to designated processors, who grind, package and freeze the venison. The Mountaineer Food Bank in Gassaway and Facing Hunger Foodbank in Huntington, both Feeding America members, distribute the venison to more than 600 charitable food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, shelters and more.

For Meat Processors: Participating processors need to be certified with either the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. Once certified, contact Trevor Moore at 304-924-6211 and send an email with a copy of your certificate to trevor.m.moore@wv.gov. Once approved, processors can begin receiving and storing meat for pick up. Processors are reimbursed at a rate of $3 per pound.

Hunters Helping the Hungry Meat Processors

Processor	County	Address	Phone	Contact	Notes
Shady Spring FFA	Raleigh	300 Hinton Road Shady Spring, WV 25918	304-661-6965	Amanda Harvey	For drop offs, drive behind main building to agriculture building.
Mann’s Meat Processing	Monroe	1216 Back Valley Road Lindside, WV 24951	304-320-2035	Zach Mann
Puckett’s	Harrison	8962 Good Hope Pike, Lost Creek, WV 26385	304-709-0247	Doyle Puckett
Hill Country Meats	Marion	75 Coons Hollow Road, Fairmont, WV 26554	304-612-2168	Leonard Martin
D & K Custom Cutting	Taylor	1686 Veterans Memorial Highway, Flemington, WV 26347	304-739-2686	Danny Casto
Syrews Custom Butchering	Lewis	114 Louise Street, Weston, WV 26452	304-269-1290	Tom Syrews
Teet’s Meat Packing	Randolph	Craven’s Run Road, Elkins, WV 26241	304-636-9748	Jamie Andrews
Milam’s Custom Meat Processing	Kanawha	554 Lick Branch Road, Charleston, WV 25312	304-776-3337	Adam Milam
S & J Custom Meats	Kanawha	2441 Fisher Branch Road, Charleston, WV 25312	304-776-9166	Jim Sayre
Mauk’s, LLC	Logan	1485 Crooked Creek Road, Peach Creek, WV 25639	304-687-7950	Stephen Mauk
Call’s Meat Market	Putnam	3550 Teays Valley Road, Hurricane, WV 25526	681-233-4444	Leanne Call
Wolfe Slaughterhouse	Jackson	314 Evansview Road, Ripley, WV 25271	304-372-6025	Wayne Wolfe

Supporting Hunters Helping the Hungry

While Hunters Helping the Hungry has immense potential to make a difference, the program’s costs have averaged $43,343.36 over the past seven years. Because the WVDNR is unable to use license funds, the Hunters Helping the Hungry program is completely reliant on individuals, businesses, conservation organizations, foundations and churches for support.

Key Fundraising Events

Governor’s One-Shot Hunt
Since 2007, this antlerless deer hunt provides both venison and funding for the program.

Share the Harvest Sunday
Held annually by the West Virginia Council of Churches on the first Sunday in November, this event sees approximately 3,000 churches encouraging their congregations to donate any amount they can afford to the Hunters Helping the Hungry Program.

How to Contribute to Hunters Helping the Hungry

Individuals, churches, organizations and businesses can help sustain the HHH Program through generous monetary donations. Checks and money orders should be made out to Hunters Helping the Hungry and sent to:

Hunters Helping the Hungry
WV Division of Natural Resources
163 Wildlife Road
French Creek, WV 26218

For further inquiries, please contact Trevor Moore at 304-924-6211 or Trevor.M.Moore@wv.gov.