Posted on 12/23/2002 4:45:20 PM PST by Vigilantcitizen
Note: Although there is a link to Georgia Outdoor News above, this article was not online and is excerpted from the paper edition.
The first of two "Hunters for the Hungry" collection weekends took place November 9-10. Hunters could donate a field dressed deer at one of eight donation sites across the state. The weekend tally totaled 396 deer. A year ago, hunters set a donation record when 418 deer were collected during the first weekend.
Hunters last year donated a total of 818 deer during the two collection weekends, a record during the nine year program which has donated 76,000 pounds of venison during that time.
The collection sites are manned by DNR personnel and student volunteers from the UGA Warnell Shool of Forest Resources. At the Lexington site, students Gretchen Turner and Erica Bunch volunteered their weekend to help collect deer.
The field dressed deer are held in refridgerated trucks, then transported to a Department of Corrections facility where they are processed into ground venison. The packages are then distributed by the Atlanta Community Food Bank and other food banks across Georgia. The cost of the program is underwritten by the Georgia WildlifeFederation(GWF).
The hunters who donated a deer left the site with a good looking T-shirt, a chance in the raffle of a deer rifle donated by GWF, and the knowledge that they were helping those in need.
Although the media would have you believe hunters are brainless, heartless, killers, it's stories like this that paint an accurate picture of them and their makeup.
Although most of the country is of the opinion that us rural Southerners are exclusively born with a racism gene, the fact that these hunters go out of their way to donate the deer knowing that 85% of this meat is distributed to poor urban Black families belies that stereotype.
Lastly, this story shows what is the best thing about Christmas; Giving to those who are worse off than you, even if you don't have much to begin with.
BUMP
Would you believe in 35 years of living here in rural West Georgia, I've never known a native named Bubba.
Having been a slave to the corporate exhibit/trade show business for the last 8 years which has taken me in a vicious circle of Chicago-NY-Vegas-LA-Dallas trips, and having lived near Atlanta(Which is 90% transplanted population), and having spent 3 years in the service(2 of those in the frozen hell of Great Lakes Naval Base), I've had the great pleasure to meet people of all backgrounds and birthplaces.
One thing this experience has taught me is that most common people do not share the disdain of rural Southern people which the media and the elite seem to foster. And I do not have a hatred of people from North of the Mason/Dixon line. If I did, I wouldn't be very successful in my line of work.
I miss home a lot sometimes. There aint no hushpuppies in Europe.
It's funny. I was thirteen or so before I realized that not everybody ate deer meat on a regular basis or played with catfish "floats" in the sink (or a bucket of water).
Well Done !!
Merry Christmas and may the New Year be kind to you and yours Viligantcitizen.
Stay Safe !
I think I have a lot more in common with you than a "born into money elitest" native who hasn't ever gotten a blister on their hands or ate collard greens, but will be quick to point out the supposed shortcomings of the rural types who they are neighbors with. But let a tornado come, or a burgular break in, or the house to catch fire, and those same rural people that make up the majority of the City of Atlanta emergency services will come to the rescue.
" If I didn't like the deep woods and the wilderness, I wouldn't live her in northern Minnesota."
I know what you mean. Although I'm only 25 minutes from downtown Atlanta, Talledega National Forest is only 40 miles to the west. The vast Chattahoochie National Forest, which stretches from the North Georgia mountains all the way to Atlanta, isn't far.
I can catch trout inside the city limits on the Chattahoochie river. I can Largemouth fish on the 4 major resevoirs within 50 miles of me. Or, I can drive 4 hours south and be in the Saltwater fishing haven of Destin, Florida.(Which I just did in October, Results here.)
Why thank you, FRiend.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may the New Year bring good fortune for you and your family.
Eat lots of black eye peas, greens and pork New Years day for good luck in life, finances, and health.(Old Southern Tradition). Oh, and watch lots of Football.(GO DAWGS!)
Well, for what its worth V,I may be a Yankee in S.E. Michigan outside of Detroit but I don't place any labels on anyone other than socialists. You folks as well as hunters in any given part of this country are what keeps this place in perspective........(try wearing your collar up and you won't end up with a "red neck"....) LOL!!!
From a trip on the last weekend of October out of Destin, Florida, the bigger snappers and groupers went 12-15 pounds each and we totaled 100 pounds for the day. Days catch.
"I miss home a lot sometimes. There aint no hushpuppies in Europe."
Man, I really feel for ya! ; ^)> I'll bet there isn't any sweet tea or cornbread either.
/sarcasm
Of course, thinking people always knew that most people who hunt are good people who care about the downtrodden.
Living near the 90% transplanted population of Atlanta, and having been married to the exhibit/trade show business for the last 8 years, I have had the pleasure of meeting people from all walks of life and from all parts of the country. One thing this has taught me is I have more in common with working class Notherners than elitest, old money Southern natives.
I am very jealous of the muskie and pike fishing in your home state. And the trophy bucks Michigan puts out every year.
Regarding the collar, I don't wear one. ; ^ )>
Well, you'd win that bet ;-) Homemade peach ice cream is something else I'll never have here...
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