( KPLR ) - Conservationists in Missouri say there will be over 400,000 deer hunters out starting at sunrise on Saturday.

That could turn into quite an army to fight hunger. Now, that the state is throwing its financial weight to the "Share the Harvest" program.

Gov. Jay Nixon says, "Thousands of people would go hungry each and every week and month in this region of our state."

To combat that, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said today he's helping to finance harvesting the deer to feed those who are hungry. He made the announcement at Operation Food Search in University City which feeds no less than 120,000 people each and every month. Director Sunny Schaefer says she welcomes the state's support and financial input.

Food Search will distribute mostly one and a half pound packages of ground venison. Venison can easily replace hamburger in spaghetti sauce . Other recipes will be distributed later.

It is offering up to $200-thousand dollars in tax credits to those contributing to the harvest program. If a company donates $10,000, it gets 50 percent of that in tax credits as an incentive. It's money the state is losing, but it's not hard, cold cash coming directly from the state budget.

So far, the state has lined up 125 certified processors to package the donated deer. They will be reimbursed by the non-profit conservation federation that collects the private donations.

the governor may become a donor, himself. He says he'll spend the weekend scouring the woods around Clark County, Missouri. He says if he's really a straight shooter, whatever he bags will be turned over to "Share the Harvest."

Here's how the state helps.



TAX CREDITS FOR DONATIONS

  • Up to $200,000
  • 50% of donation eligible
  • Processors will be re-imbursed