News Release

Gettysburg Venison Donated to Local Food Banks (2021)

Date: November 30, 2021
Contact: Jason Martz

The National Park Service at Gettysburg National Military Park donated 7,000 pounds of venison to local food banks. The venison is from 250 deer recently taken as part of a deer management program at Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site. 

This action addresses over-browsing of native vegetation and agricultural crops and is a management strategy that supports long- term protection, preservation, and restoration of critical elements of the cultural landscape and other natural and cultural resources while maintaining a deer population at both park units. The cultural landscapes of both park units are fundamental resources and critical to the interpretation of the events that took place at each park.   

Hunting is not permitted inside the two parks--only qualified federal employees took part in the effort to manage the deer populations affecting the parks. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services worked under an inter-agency agreement with the National Park Service (NPS). NPS closely coordinates all activities associated with implementation of the plan with the Borough of Gettysburg, surrounding Townships including Cumberland, Mount Joy and Straban, state law enforcement officials and with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Butcher Block of Biglerville processed all of the venison.  The annual deer management program at Gettysburg and Eisenhower provided venison for the following local food banks:

• Gettysburg Community Soup Kitchen

• Upper Adams Food Pantry

• York Springs Food Pantry

• Adams County Office for Aging

• Adams County Rescue Mission

• South Central Community Action Programs

• God's Meal Barrel

• New Hope Ministries

• Thrive Ministry