As Missourians settle in for the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, the Department of Conservation encourages hunters who recently bagged a deer to share the harvest.

The Share the Harvest program provides ways for deer hunters to donate venison to needy state residents.

5,731 hunters donated last year to the Share the Harvest program totaled over 300,000 lbs. Of venison.

For more information on how you can donate, visit www.mdc.mo.gov