Ham for the Hungry (edited)

[Tomme]

I'm proposing that we sponsor a statewide bowhunting weekend to shoot feral hogs. All hogs harvested would be donated to help feed the hungry. Alternatively, all hogs harvested (backstraps removed :) would be donated to feed the hungry.

Ultimately I see giving this idea away to Parks and Wildlife and to rifle organizations for hunts the same weekend (it's for a good cause and they would generate more meat), but initally it would be us.

I think we could easily set up and do this on several APH lands around the state and thus get wide coverage (Granger comes to mind). In addition, if we could bring Parks and Wildlife to come on board with us, they might be able to put us on to some larger ranches with hog problems, who would allow us to hunt free, in return for some help with the hog population. A third alternative might be the local farmer in your own area, with couple hundred acres, a hog problem, but who doesn't want people with guns on his place. I don't see the hunters as being charged to do this, or at most a nominal fee of $20 or so. I would. however, like to see some minimal fee of say $10 charged. This fee could go to food processing costs, and also to help give a serious count of how many are coming.

Advantages to the rancher, getting some of his hogs killed off and right before antler development begins. The rancher could also (I believe) deduct the fair market value of the donated hunts and if he had a lot of hunters, this could be impressive.

Advantage to Parks and Wildlife would be increased hunter opportunities and some help with the hog population.

Advantages to the bowhunter are obvious. Though one additional one is also true. If you come on this hunt, I think you could donate expenses from your income tax as a charitable contiribution. After all you are helping a charitable organization feed the hungry (chekc with your accountant).

First and foremost, if we could kill a lot of hogs, we could help out a lot of hungry people and the soup kitchens and food pantries that serve them, at a hard time of year.

Advantages to LSBA would be good PR, and one more worthwhile activity we do to promote bowhunting. I think it also would give us one more thing to point to when we are recruiting. If we do this I think we should really hit the newspapers hard with press releases, follow ups of the hunt and the meat delivery. Of course we could also tuck in there contact information as to how they could join LSBA or come on the hunt.

I don't know how many soup kitchens there are around the state, but there is one in Temple who will accept "quarters". This would be the cheapest way to do it and if we do a Feb hunt we should have several of these lined up (Anyone know of a soup kitchen in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas)?

If the meat goes to food "pantires" it would be more expensive in that there are processing costs, even if a low price is donated, but perhaps we could use the $10 fee above, or donate it out of the treasury.

I think we could come up with some version of the TBH express to get the meat moved. Alternatively, we could use the actual TBH express. This would have to be lined out in advance.

It wouldn't take much to get this going. I see

1. EC approval

2. Selection of "Pork for the Poor" hunt date. Again probably 2nd or third weekend in February. Since my anniversary is around the 2nd, I'm picking the third.

3. Selection of initial site or sites.

4. Public Announcement

[tinman]

Is it bad PR to say this could make for some great PR for bowhunters? :)

Good idea, Tomme!

[LostHawg]

Don't know Joey, may have to refer to our PR department.

[MILNRICK]

Tomme

Millie and I have done something like this before on our own here in San Antonio. I would think that most anyone can contact their St. Vincent DePaul's Society and they'll take whatever meat is offered, including Feral Goats, Hogs or Deer. They do ask, however, that the carcass be skinned and quartered. They'll do the rest, and give the hunter/huntress a Tax Deductible slip for their efforts (honor system in placing value on the deduction).

It's win-win for all concerned.

[Tomme]

I agree with you on the win-win. If we can also get some ranchers with hog problems to allow this, then not only do bowhunters win, the hungry win, but the deer herd wins as well. Guess the hogs lose, but that's too bad.

I'm glad you mentioned the St. Vincent DePaul group. There's a group I have a great deal of respect for. If you have contact numbers, please post them.

Anyone else out there in other cities, Austin, Waco, Dallas, Houston, etc. if you know of a soup kitchen etc. get us the contact info.

I also did a skinned/quartered donation deal before. To me that is the best for all concerned.

By the way the name is in the process of being changed to


"Ham for the Hungry"


It hasn't been decided yet, but maybe a date toward the end of Feb, LSBA could sponsor

HAM FOR THE HUNGRY hunts all over the state.


Final thought, the tax receipt is no ssmall thing either. Go hunting, help the needy and make money......wow!

[MILNRICK]

Tomme

Most Catholic Churches will have access to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, least that's what we've seen.

Here's another group for folks in San Antonio:
River City Community Church, located at teh corner of Redland Rd and Jones Maltsberger (just inside of Loop 1604). Contact person is: Mr. Willy Mayfield, phone: 210-490-5262. These folks will take most game species -- all you need to do is field dress it.



Hope this helps.

RH

[BUFF]

count me in. We shoot and give away a couple of dozen hogs every year from our lease in Rotan. bare in mind they have all been cleaned and quartered.

[Tomme]

Thanks MilnRick and Buff. I'm going to hunt hard the next couple of weeks, then work on this and the spring hunt through Christmas. We have a place in San Antonio, and one in Temple. Dallas? Houston? Waco?

[bowjunkie]

Bass Pro Shops has partnered with some of the other local orgs such as Farmers/Hunters for the Hungry (FFHH), Hunters for the Hungry and Hunters Harvest a commitee of the 'Get Together organization. Since we have worked with them in the past this could go to further solidifying our stance with them.

Houston area:

Most of the ministries listed here already take game from the Hunters harvest organization. The list is extensive. Some charge a $30.00 fee, most require at the minimum that the meat be processed or you can work with the processor list below. http://www.faithhouston.com/



Here is a list of participating Wild Game Processors state wide for any shelter/ministry that takes wild game:

http://www.tacaa.org/HFTHListALL20062007.htm



Another note since it was brought up about liability:

This law protects food donors: The Federal Bill, Emerson Good Samaritan Act of 1996, (42 U.S.C. Section 1771 et. seq), protects businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals who donate food in good faith from civil or criminal liability should such donated food later cause harm to a recipient.

[bowjunkie]

ttt for Dena