The Montana legislature passed a law in 2013 allowing individuals to help nonprofit groups process wild game for free distribution by the Montana Food Bank Network, in a program called 'Hunters Against Hunger'.

Chief Executive Officer of the Montana Food Bank Network Gayle Gifford said on Saturday, that the bill is a real boon to her organization and to the many food banks it serves around the state.

"All of the food banks around the state are not allowed tro accept wild game contributions unless they are professionally processed," Gifford said. "Having these funds makes it so much easier, because typically, we'd have to turn the meat away, or the donor would also have to pay for the processing."

Gifford said hunters have been extremely generous in the first year of the program.

"It's absolutely fantastic," she said. "The first year out of the chute, we received over $70,000, and that'll be divided throughout the state as processors need it. We expect  over 35,000 pounds of wild game to come into our system."

In western Montana, processors participating in the project include Lolo Locker in Lolo, Superior Meats in Superior, and Pat's Wild Game in Trout Creek.

 

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