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Outdoors Notes Grant program draws a crowd
A total of 129 applications were received by the Nov. 3 deadline for the first round of the Conservation Partners Legacy grant program.
An initiative of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, 3,740,000 was made available to non-profit organizations and governmental units to help fund projects intended to restore, enhance or protect fish and wildlife habitat in Minnesota. First-round grant applications requests totaled $16.6 million.
The DNR will review each of the applications to determine which projects will be funded. The deadline for completing that process is Dec. 15.
If any funds remain following the first round, they will be available for a second round of grants, with an application deadline of 5 p.m., March 1. Grant applications can be submitted year-round through the CPL Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us/ grants/habitat/cpl/index.html.
Hunters urged to donate venison
As deer season opens, State Rep. Al Doty, DFL-Royalton, and Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, are encouraging local hunters to participate in a statewide venison donation program.
The program, run by the DNR and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, allows Minnesota hunters to donate venison to participating meat processors at no cost to the hunters. The meat is processed and distributed to hungry Minnesota families in need. The program was started after the Legislature passed a bill two years ago.
"Our community has always had a strong hunting tradition," Ward said. "We also have a strong tradition of giving, and helping each other out when times are tough. The venison donation program is a great way for hunters in our area to do both."
"There has never been a more important time to donate to our local food shelves - and the venison donation program is just one more great way to put nutritious meals in the hands of hungry families," Doty said.
According to the DNR, to donate a deer, hunters must adhere to the following guidelines:
Only whole carcasses with the hide on may be donated; processors will not accept cut and wrapped meat or portions of carcasses
Information such as permit area of harvest and the DNR number will be collected for tracking purposes.
Processors can only accept carcasses for donation that are free from signs of illness, free of visible decomposition or contamination and properly identified with a Minnesota DNR registration tag
Processors will reject deer for the donation program that appear to have been mishandled in any way
In the greater Brainerd lakes area, only Lake Country Foods, 403327 Highway 6 North in Emily, is participating. For more information about the venison donation program, as well as a list of participating meat processors, go to www.dnr. state.mn.us/hunting/deer/donation/index.html. Hunters also may donate $1, $3 or $5 to the program at a DNR license vendor this fall.
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