Hunters, Packers are joining forces to tackle hungerby Paul Smith, Outdoors Editor, JSOnlinePosted: Sept. 30, 2009
In the sporting world, a "double team" is a time-honored means of focusing resources on a formidable adversary.
The concept applies outside the lines, too.
This fall, the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin hunters are teaming up on an opponent that, with all due respect to 350-pound nose tackles, is more ruthless than anything found in the National Football League.
The Packers recently announced a 2009 campaign called "Hunting Down Hunger" in which the organization is selling a special line of blaze orange and camouflage hats emblazoned with the legendary "G."
Five dollars from the sale of each hat will be contributed to state food pantries and other hunger relief efforts.
The hunting community will provide the second punch through the Wisconsin Deer Donation program. Now in its 10th year, hunters have donated nearly 70,000 deer which were processed into more than 3.1 million pounds of ground venison for needy state residents.
"Through the combination of two traditional Wisconsin pastimes, the Packers and hunting, we're hopeful fans will take aim at hunger in this very unique way," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy at a press conference announcing the campaign.
Murphy allowed that, being somewhat new to Green Bay, he was surprised last fall to see all the orange and camouflage in the stands at Lambeau.
It's a toss-up as to which tradition Wisconsinites are most proud: hunting or the Packers. In any case, we've never been shy about wearing orange or camo in public.
It's the first time the two heavyweights have been paired in such an effort. It brings to mind images of Jerry Kramer and Forrest Gregg pulling around end and laying wood to a linebacker.
The Packers have leveraged their popularity to raise $1.8 million for three other charities in recent years: breast cancer (pink caps, 2005-'06), heart disease (red caps, 2006-'07) and support of service men and women and their families (dark gray caps, 2007-'08).
"Hunger is a serious challenge," said Kate Hogan, director of retail operations for the Packers, summarizing a search for a new cause. "We chose bright orange to make our statement this year. The tradition of hunting in Wisconsin made our decision much easier."
With over 600,000 gun and 200,000 archery licenses sold each year in Wisconsin, a certain level of support is anticipated. But the campaign's appeal will no doubt extend beyond the hunting community.
"The timing couldn't have been better," said Craig Robbins, director of Paul's Pantry, a Green Bay food pantry that benefits residents of Brown County. "With the recent economic downturn, most of us know a family member, a friend or a neighbor who has lost a job. As we head into the winter months, food pantries will be busier than ever."
Robbins said recent studies have shown 1 in 8 Americans doesn't have enough to eat.
Hunters who wish to donate a deer will have a host of options, including: Hunt for the Hungry, which operates in the Green Bay area; Target Hunger, which handles donations from the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone; and the Wisconsin Venison Donation Program, which covers all remaining areas of the state.
USDA-Wildlife Services staff also help administer the programs in 49 counties. A total of 140 meat processors representing 65 counties participated in the programs in 2008.
Hunters are asked to follow several simple steps:
Field dress the deer and register it at a Wisconsin DNR registration station prior to donating the deer.
Call ahead to make sure the participating processor has space to accept your deer.
Donate the entire deer to receive the processing for free. (Head and/or antlers may be removed for mounting.)
The donated deer will be processed and the venison will be distributed to charitable organizations to help feed Wisconsin's hungry.
And if you're doing it while wearing a "G" on your lid, so much the better.
The team hasn't announced any uniform changes for the season. But you might want to keep your eyes open.
"Possibly I will wear one when I'm hunting down quarterbacks," said linebacker Desmond Bishop, sporting the stocking cap version at the press conference.
Blaze orange has always been one of the three most popular colors in Lambeau Field, especially for late season games.
Here's hoping it will be even more prevalent this year.
Details: Each sale of a Packers "Hunting Down Hunger" hat, with caps priced at $15 and the knit cap at $10, will result in a $5 donation going to charity. Caps are available online at
www.packersproshop.com as well as at the Packers Pro Shop, Packers Pro Shop Extra Points and concession stands at Lambeau Field.
A list of processors participating in the Wisconsin Deer Donation program is listed on
www.dnr.state.wi.us.
The following southeastern Wisconsin processors are participating: Blau's Meats, Saukville, (262) 284-0898; Buenzel's Meats, Milwaukee, (414) 873-7960; Gehring's Meat Market, Hartford, (262) 644-6272; Kewaskum Foods, Kewaskum, (262) 626-2181; Robert's Specialty Meats, Waukesha, (262) 549-6328; and Schwai's Meat & Sausage, Fredonia, (262) 692-2731.
Send e-mails to psmith@journalsentinel.com
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