ILLINOIS (WITHERS BROADCASTING) — The Illinois hunting season is underway with the beginning of the archery deer season starting on October 1st.

The University of Illinois Extension is hoping hunters will consider donating some of their meat this fall as part of the ‘Deer Donation Program’. Caitlin Mellendorf is a Nutrition Educator. She says this is a great program that helps local food banks – mostly in southern Illinois.

Mellendorf reminds you of a few things to keep in mind with the program. One of the big ones is the entire deer needs to be donated, not just parts of it. It is a program that is completely free for the hunters, and they reimburse the lockers that participate.