Post by Bowbo on Oct 27, 2005 11:51:57 GMT -5
State Agencies Cooperate to Reduce Deer Herd and Feed Indiana's Hungry
Indiana's Department of Natural Resources and Department of Correction are
jointly initiating a pilot program to help further manage deer populations
in 10 southeastern Indiana counties and to provide valuable job training for
offenders. Over the past several years, Indiana has seen a steady increase
in the size of its deer herd. The DNR's best measurement tools for herd
size, the annual deer harvest through hunting and reported deer-vehicle
accidents, are both trending upward for the past few years. In 2004 Indiana
hunters harvested 123,058 deer, a 15% increase over the 2003 hunting season.
The Indiana DNR has recognized the need to stop the growth of Indiana's deer
herd. Harvest restrictions for antlerless deer placed on hunters have been
liberalized for the current deer season and bow hunters are allowed to use
bonus antlerless permits during archery season. While these represent
significant efforts to better manage the deer population, the DNR wanted to
look for some additional unique ways to increase the harvest of antlerless
deer.
The DNR and DOC have found that unique program. Based on a similar effort
in Iowa, hunters in and around the counties of Clark, Henry, Washington,
Harrison, Floyd, Scott, Jefferson, Switzerland, Ohio, and Dearborn, will
have the opportunity to donate an antlerless deer to the Indiana DOC via one
of the processors listed below. This pilot program will run on November 12
and 13. Processors will not accept deer after that first weekend of
firearms season. In exchange for the donation, the hunter will receive a
coupon from the DNR for a replacement antlerless deer license at a reduced
price of $14.00. The DOC will collect the deer and process the deer as part
of an offender training initiative.
As part of this pilot program, all of the processed venison will be donated
to the FIsH (Feeding Indiana's Hungry) initiative. FIsH is a public-private
partnership that links hunger service providers, food producers, and
processors from around the state. The Daniels' administration, through a
proclamation by Lt. Governor Becky Skillman made this past National Hunger
Awareness Day, has put its support behind this important effort. More
information about FIsH can be found at their website,
www.feedingindianashungry.org.
"This unique deer management initiative should help in the DNR's efforts to
reduce Indiana's growing deer population. While our deer herd is healthy
from a biological perspective, the negative sociological human encounters,
primarily in the form of auto-deer collisions and crop damage, need to be
reduced," said Kyle Hupfer, DNR director. "We are very pleased that the
Department of Correction's has partnered with us on this project and that
the venison will have a positive impact here in Indiana."
"This is a great opportunity for our inmates to learn the skill of meat
processing and to give back to our local communities," said J. David
Donahue, Commissioner of Indiana Department of Correction.
"Interagency cooperative efforts is something that Governor Daniels
continues to emphasize," added Donahue.
Visit the DNR Web page www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/huntguide1/hunting1.htm for
more information on liberalized Indiana Deer Reduction County bag limits.
The designated deer processors participating in the program are:
Clark County
Abe's Processing
618 Beagle Club Road
Underwood, IN 47177
812-294-4671
Dearborn County
Saletin Orchards
10514 Chesterville Road
Moores Hill, IN 47032
812-744-5786
Floyd County
Kenny Roberts
2953 Corydon Pike
New Albany, IN 47150
812-945-3062
Henry County
Marsh Deer Processing
8820 West US 36
Middletown, IN 47356
765-779-4353
Harrison County
Country Tyme Meat Processors
420 Higdon Street
Corydon, IN
812-738-0175
Jefferson County
Schafer's Deer Processing
2904 N. SR #7
Madison, IN 47250
812-265-5337
Ohio County
Wild Eats Deer Processing
4431 Hartford Pike
Aurora, IN 47001
812-926-3368
Switzerland County
Old School Custom Processing
217 Brushy Fork Road
Canaan, IN 47224
812-667-6689
Scott County
Barrett Meat Processing
696 N. Shea Road
Scottsburg, IN 47170
812-889-2820
Washington County
Morris McDonald
5086 S. SR 60
Pekin, IN 47165
812-967-2545
Indiana's Department of Natural Resources and Department of Correction are
jointly initiating a pilot program to help further manage deer populations
in 10 southeastern Indiana counties and to provide valuable job training for
offenders. Over the past several years, Indiana has seen a steady increase
in the size of its deer herd. The DNR's best measurement tools for herd
size, the annual deer harvest through hunting and reported deer-vehicle
accidents, are both trending upward for the past few years. In 2004 Indiana
hunters harvested 123,058 deer, a 15% increase over the 2003 hunting season.
The Indiana DNR has recognized the need to stop the growth of Indiana's deer
herd. Harvest restrictions for antlerless deer placed on hunters have been
liberalized for the current deer season and bow hunters are allowed to use
bonus antlerless permits during archery season. While these represent
significant efforts to better manage the deer population, the DNR wanted to
look for some additional unique ways to increase the harvest of antlerless
deer.
The DNR and DOC have found that unique program. Based on a similar effort
in Iowa, hunters in and around the counties of Clark, Henry, Washington,
Harrison, Floyd, Scott, Jefferson, Switzerland, Ohio, and Dearborn, will
have the opportunity to donate an antlerless deer to the Indiana DOC via one
of the processors listed below. This pilot program will run on November 12
and 13. Processors will not accept deer after that first weekend of
firearms season. In exchange for the donation, the hunter will receive a
coupon from the DNR for a replacement antlerless deer license at a reduced
price of $14.00. The DOC will collect the deer and process the deer as part
of an offender training initiative.
As part of this pilot program, all of the processed venison will be donated
to the FIsH (Feeding Indiana's Hungry) initiative. FIsH is a public-private
partnership that links hunger service providers, food producers, and
processors from around the state. The Daniels' administration, through a
proclamation by Lt. Governor Becky Skillman made this past National Hunger
Awareness Day, has put its support behind this important effort. More
information about FIsH can be found at their website,
www.feedingindianashungry.org.
"This unique deer management initiative should help in the DNR's efforts to
reduce Indiana's growing deer population. While our deer herd is healthy
from a biological perspective, the negative sociological human encounters,
primarily in the form of auto-deer collisions and crop damage, need to be
reduced," said Kyle Hupfer, DNR director. "We are very pleased that the
Department of Correction's has partnered with us on this project and that
the venison will have a positive impact here in Indiana."
"This is a great opportunity for our inmates to learn the skill of meat
processing and to give back to our local communities," said J. David
Donahue, Commissioner of Indiana Department of Correction.
"Interagency cooperative efforts is something that Governor Daniels
continues to emphasize," added Donahue.
Visit the DNR Web page www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/huntguide1/hunting1.htm for
more information on liberalized Indiana Deer Reduction County bag limits.
The designated deer processors participating in the program are:
Clark County
Abe's Processing
618 Beagle Club Road
Underwood, IN 47177
812-294-4671
Dearborn County
Saletin Orchards
10514 Chesterville Road
Moores Hill, IN 47032
812-744-5786
Floyd County
Kenny Roberts
2953 Corydon Pike
New Albany, IN 47150
812-945-3062
Henry County
Marsh Deer Processing
8820 West US 36
Middletown, IN 47356
765-779-4353
Harrison County
Country Tyme Meat Processors
420 Higdon Street
Corydon, IN
812-738-0175
Jefferson County
Schafer's Deer Processing
2904 N. SR #7
Madison, IN 47250
812-265-5337
Ohio County
Wild Eats Deer Processing
4431 Hartford Pike
Aurora, IN 47001
812-926-3368
Switzerland County
Old School Custom Processing
217 Brushy Fork Road
Canaan, IN 47224
812-667-6689
Scott County
Barrett Meat Processing
696 N. Shea Road
Scottsburg, IN 47170
812-889-2820
Washington County
Morris McDonald
5086 S. SR 60
Pekin, IN 47165
812-967-2545
