City sharpshooters have killed about half of the 300 deer targeted for removal within the city limits this winter, and people hungry for venison are picking up the carcasses almost as fast as they fall.

But a member of the state Game, Fish & Parks Commission wonders how hungry some of those recipients really are and questions whether the venison is going to the best place during the holiday season. Jeff Olson of Rapid City, state chairman of South Dakota Sportsmen Against Hunger, wishes the city would go through the sportsmen's group to donate the venison to free-food outlets serving the poor.

"I'm not saying the people who are getting those deer now aren't needy. Many probably are. But we've got a system in place where we know they are," Olson said. "When people come into the food banks to get that burger, that person has already qualified. Those are the people who really should be getting that meat."

South Dakota Sportsmen Against Hunger uses private donations and Game, Fish & Parks Department grants to pay for all or most of the processing cost for deer donated by hunters. Then, the organization donates the venison to community food banks and affiliated organizations for distribution to the needy.

Last year hunters donated 895 deer, for about 42,000 pounds of venison burger statewide. About 15,000 pounds went out through Black Hills Regional Food Bank. The sportsmen's group negotiated a reduced processing rate of $50 per deer from 40 processors, with a few others charging $55 to $65. Sportsmen use the group's $50 certificates - which were $30 last year - to cover all or part the cost of processing, depending on where they take the deer.

Olson would like Rapid City and other cities that are killing deer to control herd numbers to donate the deer and the processing costs.

"I sure would be nice for the city to donate some or all of those 300 deer they will kill to people who are truly in need of this burger," Olson said.

Rapid City parks and recreation director Jerry Cole said, however, that Rapid City officials would be hesitant to add more expense to a deer-control program that seems to be working well and economically. The city pays $65 for every deer killed by two contract sharpshooters, who split the fee. They shoot the deer at established bait stations away from populated areas, then field dress the animals and prepare them to be picked up by people who signed up for the carcasses.

The people who receive the deer either pay to have them processed into burger and other cuts of meat or handle those chores themselves. Cole believes many are in need of the meat.

"I can't track who it is, but judging by the shape of the vehicles they come in with, I do believe that a lot of the meat is getting into the community where the need is," Cole said. "I also think some are picked up by people who don't hunt and want to supplement their protein source, and also by some who may give them away to those in need."

Monica Leightheiser, manager of the Black Hills Regional Food Bank in Rapid City, said meat products are in especially short supply these days in the charitable-food chain. So the venison burger is even more impotant than usual, she said.

"They're really happy to get it," she said. "You can make chili and spaghetti with it. It just works into so many dishes well."

By Tuesday afternoon, the sharpshooters had killed 147 deer in the Rapid City. And all had been given away. People on the sign-up sheet to receive deer have one day to pick up the carcass or officials move on to the next person on the list.

That doesn't happen often, Cole said. The deer are in high demand.

"This system allows us to keep our budget down, to mange the deer herd and provide venison to those who request it," he said. "If we could find the money or a nonprofit would donate to get deer processed, I don't think we'vd have a problem doing that."

Rapid City, Pierre and Ellsworth Air Force Base all received deer-kill permits from GF&P this year, and they either are shooting or have finished shooting. Ellsworth donated to the food bank, paying the processing costs.

Whitewood has a kill-permit application in with GF&P officials, and the agency is working with Custer, Edgemont and Hot Springs to develop deer-management plans. The plans are required before the issuance of kill permits by the state.

Those plans must include a ban on feeding deer within city limits, which Rapid City has had since 1995.

Don't feed the deer Rapid City has an ordinance against feeding deer within city limits. A violation of the Rapid City ban is a Class 2 misdemeanor, with maximum penalties of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Kevin Lewis of the city attorney's office said he doesn't recall anyone being charged with illegal deer feeding.

"Usually, you tell people, and they stop it," he said. "There's a couple of people who have gotten real close to the line. People are doing more harm than good by putting out corn for deer."

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com