Missouri Hunters Urged to Share the Harvest This Deer Season

Deer season is well underway in Missouri for archers. The Department of Conservation and the Conservation Federation of Missouri are asking again for hunters to be generous and participate in the state’s “Share the Harvest” program.

Missouri hunters can take their harvested deer to a meat processor that has been approved. Let the processor know how much you are willing to donate. Many times, the processing fees have been at least partially covered by local sponsors of the “Share the Harvest” program. The donated meat will then be distributed to food pantries and food banks in your area.

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Many counties in the Show-Me State are part of the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone. If you harvest a deer in those areas, you’ll need to have it tested. There are usually processors in each county that can test your harvested deer. Only deer that test negative will be donated. Deer harvested outside of the CWD zone counties do not have to be tested before being processed and donated.

Missouri deer season continues in several forms until January 15, 2026. Meat harvested can be donated throughout the season, or just after. Since 1992 when the program began, Missouri hunters have donated six million pounds of venison.