From car accidents, forest degradation, crop destruction, and home garden damage, deer overpopulation is a very real problem in Hopewell Township. Although often hidden from view, hunger and food insecurity is also a struggle in our community.
These may seem unrelated, but both problems are addressed by the work of Hopewell Township Deer Management program hunters.
The nonprofit organization Hunters Helping the Hungry (huntershelpingthehungry.org), or HHH, allows hunters to donate venison from their deer harvest to feed people in need in New Jersey. HHH began during the 1997-1998 hunting season by three hunters looking to provide protein for local food banks while addressing overpopulation of the deer herd in the community. In their first year, ten deer were donated, which meant that 500 pounds of meat went to people in need. The program in New Jersey has grown enormously over the past 25 years; during the 2021-2022 season, 839 deer were donated, equaling 26,054 pounds of meat.
This means that 104,216 servings of high quality, local, nutritious protein was given to food banks all over the state. Since the program’s inception, more than 255 tons (511,612 lbs.) of venison has been donated to food banks, providing more than 2 million meals to people in need.
Our local Hopewell Township hunters play a big part in these efforts. Chris Pazdan, co-chair of the Deer Management Advisory Committee, says, “The Township Deer Management program supports HHH and encourages hunters to donate to the HHH program. We average 10 to 15 deer donated per year, which is about 400-750 pounds of meat per year.”
The committee also is actively looking at ways to increase donations to HHH, such as providing a payment to HHH for unlimited deer butchering done in a season rather than paying per deer harvested.
HHH is supported by the New Jersey Department of Health, New Jersey Fish and Game, and various sportsman clubs. Anyone donating venison must be a licensed hunter that has completed the required safety course and meets all insurance requirements. All processing is done at approved butchers, which are inspected by local and state health departments.
A well managed and controlled deer population leads to fewer car accidents, a more stable food supply from reduced crop damage, healthier forests, beautiful home gardens, and a stronger and healthier deer herd.
Hunters Helping the Hungry and Hopewell Township deer management hunters also make sure that controlling the deer population helps people experiencing food insecurity obtain nutritious, high-quality protein. It’s a win-win partnership all around.
A sign at the entrance to Woolsey Park warns visitors that the park is open to hunters five days a week, with only Sundays and Mondays free for hiking. (Staff photo by Joe Emanski.),
