Rapid City annual deer harvest feeds nearly 4,700 families

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - The numbers for Rapid City’s annual deer harvest are out and this year nearly 5,600 pounds of meat was donated to fight hunger.

This year the state approved 200 tags to the city for the program to combat deer/vehicle collisions, garden and property damage, and to protect the public from aggressive encounters with deer. With this harvest providing nearly 5,600 pounds of meat, it brings the total donations to Feeding South Dakota to nearly 55,000 pounds during the past 10 seasons. Officials say this program has been great in aiding those with food instability throughout the region.

“It’s been a good program over the years, especially the last ten years that we’ve been able to donate that much meat for Feeding South Dakota. We have a great partnership with Black Hills Sportsmen and Sportsmen Against Hunger. The program we do is like the most meat that they get for the season,” said city parks division manager Scott Anderson.

“It’s incredible! I mean it makes us feel so well supported by our community and to have everyone come together kinda to make sure everything is appropriately done. But to add on the added benefit of feeding our community is just an amazing tie-in,” said distribution center manager for Feeding South Dakota Kimberly Wallace.

Wallace says it’s hard to get an exact number as to how many families received the venison, however, she estimates the majority of the 4,700 families they serve will receive a portion.

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