Nutritional wild game benefits the hungry in W.Va.

West Virginia’s abundant wildlife and hunting seasons provide opportunities for many families to fill their freezers with highly nutritious wild game.

A low-fat, high-protein alternative, white-tailed deer, for instance, contains fewer calories and approximately five times less fat than the equivalent serving of beef.

“Hunting is a great reason to get into the woods and stretch your legs and may result in a freezer full of healthy protein,” said Kaylee Pollander, wildlife biologist for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

“With the diversity of game available for legal harvest, there is something for everyone’s taste.”

Hunters and their families are not the only West Virginians who benefit from the state’s abundant supply of wild game. The DNR-sponsored Hunters Helping the Hungry Program processes deer for needy families and individuals in the Mountain State.

Since its inception in 1992, approximately 1,003,208 pounds of venison have been donated through the program. In 2018 alone, 685 deer, or 23,659 pounds of nutritious venison, were donated.

For more information about the Hunters Helping the Hungry Program, please visit the division website at WVDNR.gov or call the district office in French Creek at 304-924-6211.