Our robust deer population is a great asset, but there can be too much of a good thing, as anyone who has met a deer up close and personal at 55 miles per hour can attest. Since times are hard, Rappahannock County is instituting a program to help those who need some food assistance while also trying to help manage our exploding deer population.
A win-win: The county will pay to process legally hunted deer that are then donated to the Rappahannock Food Pantry.
Here’s how it works:
Kill your deer, field dress it, and call Manfred Call at 540-522-2896. Take the deer to Muskrat Haven Farm, 20 Cedarbreak Lane, just west of the farm stand on U.S. 211.
Then complete a form that asks for your name, date and tag number. Manfred will process the deer and donate it, packaged, frozen and ready for preparation to the Food Pantry in your name.
That’s it.
If you are not a hunter you can send a check to Hunters for the Hungry, PO Box 304, Big Island, VA 24526, earmarked for the Rappahannock Food Pantry. Hunters for the Hungry pays Blue Ridge Meats in Front Royal to process deer designated for food banks and pantries. They will call the pantry when a pickup is ready. Last year we received more than 1,000 pounds this way.
Archery season runs from Oct. 2 to Nov. 12, and firearms season starts the following day and goes to Jan. 1, 2011. Muzzleloader season is the last two weeks of archery season (Oct. 30 to Nov. 12).
John W. McCarthy
Rappahannock County Administrator
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