Roadkill for dinner: Programs salvage meat

Oct. 07--DOVER -- When a car hits a deer, it usually means a damaged vehicle and an insurance hassle. To others, it means good eatin'.

In Rollinsford, a call recently went out to New Hampshire residents to join its "deer call" list. If a deer is hit (and killed) by a car on town roads, the carcass will be given to someone on the list.

"As long as they're a New Hampshire resident, the driver gets the first opportunity," said Rollinsford Police Chief Robert Ducharme. "If they don't want it, we offer it to other people who want it, so it doesn't go to waste."

Ducharme said his department receives a report of a deer collision about six times annually, mostly around this time of year. Deer breeding season runs from October through early January, and during that time they are highly active and on the move.

New Hampshire Fish and Game policy requires a deer, moose or bear killed in a collision to be offered to the person driving the vehicle involved in the collision. After that, each individual jurisdiction sets its own policy on what to do with the carcass. A Fish and Game official also noted animals killed on New Hampshire roads can be claimed only by state residents to prevent potential spread of disease.

Bill Terry of Barrington is on several deer call lists, including Rollinsford's, and said in the past year he's received six deer killed on roads.

"I look at it this way," Terry said. "If the deer carcass sits on the side of the road, it creates coyote problems. I'd rather put it to good use."

Terry said he donates the meat to needy families and usually when a deer is involved in a roadkill incident, about half the meat can be salvaged.

"I process everything myself -- cut it up, skin it," said Terry, who describes himself as an avid sportsman. "In warmer months, you have to process them right away. Once the temperature gets down, you can let the carcass hang for about four days."

So far, Terry said, he's gotten his hands only on deer, but no bear or moose.

"If I get a call for a moose or bear I'll take it," he said. "Other than that, moose and bear are very far and few between. But they do happen."

According to statistics, an average deer can yield as much as 60 pounds of meat, a bear has about 100 pounds, and a moose can provide up to 350 pounds.

Kent Gustafson, a wildlife program supervisor for N.H. Fish and Game, said about 1,500 deer, 150 moose and 55 bears are involved in collisions each year in the state. Gustafson said most of the meat collected from New Hampshire roads is venison (deer meat) and the number of moose involved in collisions has been in decline in recent years.

"The 'Brake for Moose' campaign has been having an effect," he said. "Also, the old salt licks, where moose used to congregate on the side of roads, are disappearing."

A program run by Fish and Game in conjunction with the New Hampshire Food Bank, called "Hunt for the Hungry," took in more than 2,000 pounds of donated deer, moose, and other game meat for distribution to those in need. A lot of that meat, according to Bruce Wilson, director of operations at the New Hampshire Food Bank, came from collisions.

"It has an impact," he said. "Venison is especially popular, a real treat for clients. Last year, we got some moose meat, and as soon as it came in, out it went. We look forward to having it on our inventory list."

Wilson said all donated meat must first be processed by a USDA-approved butcher before it can be donated. He also noted the Food Bank cannot accept bear meat.

"Bear meat goes bad real quick," Wilson said.

Those interested in donating game, obtained as the result of a collision or hunting, are encouraged to call the Food Bank at (603) 669-9725 or visit www.nhfoodbank.org.

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