HAMBURG - During the past 23 years many of Pennsylvania's deer hunters have played an important role in feeding the needy by contributing whole deer or portions of their deer to Hunters Sharing the Harvest.

Beginning with the 2014 deer seasons, however, those caring hunters who annually help feed hungry Pennsylvanians by donating their extra venison through HSH will discover an easier process at virtually no cost. And at this year's kickoff campaign held recently at Cabela's Hamburg it was learned that their compassionate gesture will gain additional recognition as a valuable wildlife resource is utilized wisely.Since 1991, HSH has accepted donated deer from hunters that are processed into ground venison by official HSH inspected meat processors and distributed statewide by food banks to over 4,000 local soup kitchens, pantries, missions and needy families. Statewide the program's yearly goal is to deliver 100,000 pounds of donated venison which can provide more than 750,000 meals via social service programs.Effective this season, several major changes are being announced to further the objectives and success of the HSH program that should be welcomed by participating hunters throughout Pennsylvania - HSH is proud to announce the $15 deposit requested from donors when dropping off a deer has been eliminated. Previously, the co-pay was necessary for many years when sufficient funds to reimburse butchers were unpredictable.This has been eliminated because of major gifts by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Consol Energy and the Richard King Mellon Foundation, along with exceptional yearly support of many major corporate sponsors, partners, sportsmen's clubs and thousands of individuals, the registered nonprofit's funding base has stabilized sufficiently for the HSH board of directors to take this action. This change is designed to serve as an additional incentive for more hunters to donate even more deer into the system.Hunters will only have to deliver their deer to any HSH approved processor, and complete the short 3-part donation form so processor can then process the deer for the food bank program and be reimbursed for contracted services by HSH after the season. To make donating an extra deer easy, the HSH

www.sharedeer.org website maintains links with updated contact listings of all participating processors by county, along with local volunteer coordinators who are there to help, plus a toll-free telephone 1-866-474-2141 to access the same information.In addition, thanks to an innovative partnership with Cabela's Outfitters, the Marcellus Shale Coalition and PGC, hunters who donate deer will receive a new version of the

S.P.O.R.T. measuring tape. This popular weatherproof item can be carried afield while hunting and allows hunters to quickly estimate weight of their deer on site.While supplies last, all deer donors will receive the tape, as well as the collectible window decal sponsored by Bass Pro Shops with the charity's letter acknowledging the donation following the season. Another incentive is that for each deer donated the hunter will be entered in a drawing to win one of the $2,000 in gift cards donated by Cabela's.All Pennsylvanians, whether they hunt or not, can donate tax-deductible financial contributions to the HSH program to help meet deer processing costs.