Hunters for the Hungry kicks off this week

Hunters For Hungry Kickoff 2026

This weekend begins the start of deer hunting season in Texas, and the East Texas Food Bank is hoping participants will donate some of their venison through the Hunters for the Hungry (HFH) program.

The program is made possible through a partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and distributes deer to local food banks to feed neighbors. Hunters can donate legally harvested deer to a participating meat processor, who will be compensated for preparing the venison for distribution.

“So many of the people we serve look forward to receiving fresh venison each year and we are grateful that so many hunters give back to this program,” said David Emerson, CEO of the ETFB. “Currently 1 in 6 East Texans, including 1 in 4 children, are facing hunger. We are serving over 30 million meals a year to fight food insecurity.”

HFH has provided over 12 million servings of venison to hungry Texans.

Hunters Deer Donation Locations

The ETFB has four processors that hunters can bring their deer to in East Texas if they would like to participate in the program.

  • TFR Country Store (Carnes) – 20601 Hwy 110 South – Troup
  • Massingills Meat Market – 3728 U.S. Hwy 69 North – Lufkin
  • 7-H Processing- 170 CR 2112- Quitman
  • FTF Deer Processors- 1258 Palmer Dr.- Hooks

Hunters for the Hungry only accepts deer. Due to federal restrictions, the program is not allowed to accept hog meat or roadkill. The program only works with fresh venison.

The general white-tailed deer season begins November 7 and ends in January based on your county, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife. Hunting regulations can be found on their website at tpwd.texas.gov

“A hunting license allows a hunter to harvest up to five white-tailed deer and two mule deer, dependent on the county or counties in which one hunts,” said Immanuel Salas, Target Range Grant Coordinator for Texas Parks & Wildlife. “When individual hunters donate their harvests, they are directly helping their neighbors.  This not only feeds people but also demonstrates one of the many ways that hunters are thoughtful and respectful of non-hunters. It also shows value for wildlife and the sustenance they provide.  Additionally, hunters have an opportunity to donate to HFH when they purchase their hunting and/or fishing license.”

Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists conduct deer surveys each summer and fall to estimate deer populations and help determine future deer harvest regulations. The statewide white-tailed deer population is estimated to be about 5.4 million animals and about 334,000 of those deer are located in the Pineywoods of East Texas. An estimated 430,000 white tailed deer were harvested last year in Texas.

To learn more about Hunters for the Hungry visit EastTexasFoodBank.org/hunters.