ARCHERY SEASON underway; hunters look forward to firearm seasons
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Out-of-state deer hunters Nick Mihelcic, Dan Mihelcic, and Ryan Rayburn exchanged stories about their Pike County hunting experiences outside the Pittsfield Subway restaurant on Sunday morning. The Mihelcic brothers are visiting from metro Pittsburgh, and Rayburn is visiting from Florida. (David Camphouse/River County News)
By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
Out-of-state plates and groups of camouflaged visitors to the area have become a common sight throughout Pike County and other areas of the region since the beginning of the Illinois deer archery season that began at the beginning of this month.
Archery season will continue through the rest of this month and end November 20. Additional archery dates are November 24-December 3 and December 8-January 18.
Firearm deer seasons are November 21-23 and December 4-7. Muzzleloader-only season is December 12-14.
According to Two Rivers Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Director Brenda Middendorf, deer harvest this year is on track with last year’s historically large harvest.
“The heat at the beginning of the season might have caused hunters to get off to a slower start, but we seem to have picked up since then,” Middendorf said.
Two Rivers RC&D coordinates the Access Food – Feed the Hungry deer donation program. The program allows trophy hunters to donate deer they have harvested at local meat lockers to be donated to local food pantries.
Middendorf said that the program is enjoying many donations of deer and has started delivering to food pantries serving Brown, Pike, Schuyler, and Scott Counties, so that the deer meat can be made available to local families in need.
“We have caught up to where we were at this time last year with deer donations,” Middendorf said. “The processors have been great to work with, and we were able to make our first deliveries to the food pantries last week.”
Middendorf said that the government shutdown and threats to cut off SNAP food assistance benefits for low income residents starting in November have increased the demand on food pantries.
“Because of SNAP cuts, the food pantries are seeing a lot of new faces and families,” Middendorf said.
High grocery prices, Middendorf said, have also increased the strain on families and demand on food pantries. Deer meat, she said, is an excellent source of high quality protein.
“There is a real need for meat,” Middendorf said. “Grocery prices are still high and have not come down.”
“The advantage of deer meat, especially over lower cost meat options, is that it’s much healthier – lower in fat and high in iron and B vitamins. It’s an excellent option for residents with diabetes and other health issues.”
While hunters have been donating ample amounts of harvested deer, Middendorf indicated that the Access Food program is in need of financial contributions, so that the deer processing facilities can be reimbursed for their work.
Deer donations for food pantries are accepted at the following locations:
Pike County Custom Meats, 1311 W Washington Street, Pittsfield, IL | 217-285-4446
Houser Meats, 14320 Scotts Mill Road, Rushville, IL | 217-322-4994
Farmhouse Meat Co., 140 James Street, Carthage, IL | 217-357-1565
Dawning Day Deer Processing, 3024 N 12000th Ave., Clayton, IL | 217-322-7519
For further information or to make a financial donation, contact Access Illinois Outdoors at 217-491-2401.
