Union County Donates Almost 3,000 Pounds of Venison to Food Bank After Hunt

WESTFIELD, NJ — Union County says it hit its goal for the 2025-2026 deer management program, which resulted in providing more than 11,000 meals for families in need with the venison that resulted.One hundred and eighty-five deer were killed during the 2025-2026 deer management program, according to Union County Director of Engineering, Public Works & Facilities Management Joseph J. Policay Jr. The county’s goal was to kill between 180 and 200 deer this year, according to Policay. Last year, 219 deer were killed.County officials say the annual program, which has been ongoing for many years, is effective because it helps feed people in need while reducing the deer population at the same time. The program has also left people questioning over the years how the venison meat is distributed, who receives it, and if people do in fact cook and eat the meat, which has a gamier flavor and is leaner than beef.For the 2025-2026 season, the county donated meat from 97 of the 185 deer killed to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, according to Policay. That number, he said, equals about 11,748 meals for residents in need. Volunteer hunters with the program kept the meat from the other 88 deer and paid for their own processing costs, according to Union County Spokesperson Kelly Martins.The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) gets the venison through a partnership it has with Union County. In the 2025-2026 season, the CFBNJ received nearly 3,000 pounds of venison through the program.“Every year, the CFBNJ is grateful to get a generous assortment of different cuts of venison, which expands the variety of nutritious options available to the neighbors we serve,” said CFBNJ President & CEO Elizabeth McCarthy in an email to TAPinto.The venison is processed under strict state guidelines for high quality and safety standards. After the meat is processed, the CFBNJ distributes it to over 800 of its community partners across the state, which include its partners in Union County and pantries in South Jersey. Union County pays for the cost to process the deer meat, which is $85 per deer, according to Martins. The CFBNJ provides recipes and cooking instructions for the venison as needed to its partners.“Lean, healthy proteins like venison are priority foods as CFBNJ works to provide the most nourishing options to New Jerseyans in need,” McCarthy told TAPinto. “We appreciate everything we receive through this program with Union County.”James Carey, director of the food pantry at the Elizabethport Presbyterian Center, which has received venison in the past, said it’s appreciated when they get it.“Some people received it and didn’t know what it was,” he said. “Others, like people from the Deep South, knew about it and would praise the meat. That compelled others to inquire about the meat and take it. When one person had knowledge and the other person didn’t have knowledge, they formed an alliance because of it,” Carey said.Although Union County hit its goal this year, the number of deer killed here was lower this year than last in the county, and statewide by 3 to 5 percent, according to Martins.“Overall, deer harvest totals this year were impacted by weather conditions. The program was effectively paused for approximately four weeks due to significant snow accumulation, which limited safe parking and access for volunteer hunters,” Martins said.“Despite these challenges, the program continued to operate safely and effectively, supporting both population management and venison donation efforts,” Martins said.This story was made possible through a collaboration of TAPinto sites in Union County.