Executive Director Tina Osso said the organization gets about half a dozen deer donated every year, but would like more.

"We could use 500-600," said Osso.

Ohio wildlife officials expect hunters using guns will bag as many as 125,000 deer during this year's hunting season.

It opened just before dawn on Monday and continues through Sunday, then picks up again later in the month with a weekend hunt Dec. 19-20.

Rick Neff was one hunter that was out this morning, but he told ONN's Lot Tan that he did not get any deer.

Gary's Guns in Fairfield is one of three deer check stations in Butler county.

Owner Gary Metcalf said many hunters are happy to donate to food banks like Shared Harvest, but they need to continue to get the word out.

"All they have to do is advertise and they'd get deer," said Metcalf

The state Division of Wildlife estimated a pre-season population of 650,000 white-tailed deer in Ohio. They estimate that about 420,000 hunters will participate in this year's nine days of gun hunting, including many coming from outside the state.

Hunters may kill only one male, antlered deer. They're encouraged to take more females and donate any extra venison to organizations helping the needy.

For more information on donating meat to Shared Harvest, you can visit their Web site.

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