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November 19, 2009

Donated venison can yield tax break

By JOE LoTEMPLIO

PLATTSBURGH — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is seeking legislation that will provide a tax benefit for hunters who donate their processed venison to anti-hunger programs.

Under the proposal, hunters will be able to take a tax deduction for the cost of processing their venison if the final product is donated.

The legislation will also provide a tax benefit to processors who participate in venison-donation programs by making all processing income they receive from charities or the state tax exempt.

Traditional venison-donation programs have seen their funding levels decimated in recent years, and as a result, the amount of deer meat donated has declined.

Schumer (D-Brooklyn) said the legislation will support hunters, a major economic engine in the state; raise the profile of venison-donation programs; provide a reward to hunters and processors for helping their communities; and help people in time of need.

"The hunting, fishing and outdoor-sporting industry is a bright spot in a dark economic time and one that must be protected and allowed to grow," Schumer said.

"This legislation will provide hunters with an economic boost, combat overpopulation of deer and help the hungry all at the same time."

The plan calls for hunters who spends $65 processing the meat to get a deduction of that amount from their taxable income.

The legislation also makes tax exempt any income received by a processor from a nonprofit group.

Organizations such as the Venison Donation Coalition pay to process game that hunters bring to designated processors, so long as the final product is donated to a feeding program.

Schumer said these organizations are being stretched to the brink and are starved of funding.

Up until two years ago, the Venison Donation Coalition was funded by the state at $100,000 per year. Last year, it was given $75,000, and this year, $21,000.

Donations have also dropped greatly during the recession.

About 700,000 New Yorkers and another 50,000 non-residents hunt in this state, contributing about $1.5 billion annually to the economy.

Hunting is also seen as a tool in managing overcrowded deer populations. More than 220,000 deer were killed in 2008 in the state, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation's Bureau of Wildlife.

Of that total, about 28,400 were killed in the North Country last year.

For more information on the donation program, visit the Venison Donation Coalition Web site at www.venisondonation.com.

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com

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