Feingold supports tax write off for venison donation

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold is backing legislation to help boost venison donations to the hungry.

Feingold is co-sponsoring a proposal crafted by New York Democrat Chuck Schumer. It would let deer hunters deduct the cost of having their game processed from their taxable income, if the meat is donated to a food pantry or soup kitchen. On average, processing can run between $60 to $90 per deer.

Jeffrey Noble, a hunter from Poynette, likes the proposal. He tries to donate one or two deer each year as it’s something he feels good about and helps those in need.

Senators Schumer and Feingold say the flagging economy has hurt charities, including hunger-relief efforts. That's what Edie Miller has seen. She works with D & G Custom Meat Processing in Columbia County. She says this year, they've processed nearly 100 deer donated by hunters for local food donation programs, but she says that’s down substantially from the past. The first year they participated in a donation program, D & G processed more than 200 deer intended for charity.

The legislation also gives processors a tax exemption on all income they get from charities or the state. The breaks only apply to deer that were hunted legally.

Tags: northland outdoors, news, government, deer