During Michigan’s deer-hunting season, which starts in October, the Empire Area Community Center works with Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger to promote deer donations to local food pantries. This year’s goal for the Empire Area Food Pantry is 50 deer or approximately 2,500 pounds of food for local families in need. Contact Gerry Shiffman, Empire Area Community Center, at 616-437-1711, for more information on the deer donation program or for help transporting deer to local deer processors.
Deer may be dropped off for local processing, at no cost to hunters, at Bunting’s Cedar Market in Cedar (9054 S Cedar Rd, Cedar, MI) or at The Buckstop in Grawn (3143 Mason Rd, Grawn, MI). All donated deer must be field-dressed and tagged. The Buckstop only accepts unskinned deer. Bunting’s Cedar Market only accepts unskinned deer from Nov. 15–30 during Michigan’s regular firearm deer hunting season — deer must be skinned if donated to Bunting’s before Nov. 15 or after Nov. 30.
