Rapid City deer harvest brings in a record amount of meat for donation

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - A record 7,088 pounds of meat has been donated to Feeding South Dakota as a result of this winter’s annual Rapid City deer harvest.

Based on city surveys and the recommendation of the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department, 237 deer were harvested this winter. Last year, 6,401 pounds of meat from 240 deer were processed and donated to Feeding South Dakota.

The program provides for the management of deer within the city limits. Initiated in 1995, the program is an effort to foster healthy deer populations, address problems associated with an overabundance of deer within the boundaries of Rapid City and donate the meat to Feeding South Dakota. Issues with an overabundance of deer in the city include deer/vehicle collisions; landscape, garden, and property damage, and public safety issues including aggressive encounters with deer.

This year’s deer harvest was initiated in January and completed last month. The state recommended 250 deer could be harvested this season and a total of 237 tags were filled. None of the 237 deer tested positive for the chronic wasting disease and the deer were processed with the meat donated to Feeding South Dakota.

“This program is a win-win for the community,” said city Parks Division Manager Scott Anderson. “It’s an opportunity to donate meat to people in need and it’s an effective way to manage deer in the city limits at a safe and healthy level.

“This program is a great partnership between the city, Black Hills Sportsmen, and Sportsmen Against Hunger. The two sportsmen groups contribute a considerable amount of money towards the processing costs, which enables the meat to be donated to Feeding South Dakota,” Anderson said.

In December, the Rapid City Council approved the state’s harvest recommendation with concurrence from the city’s Urban Wildlife Committee and Parks Division.

Issues with an overabundance of deer in the city include deer/vehicle collisions; landscape, garden, and property damage; and public safety issues including aggressive encounters with deer.

DEER HARVEST NUMBERS (by year):

• 2022-23: 250 (actual harvest: 237)
• 2021-22: 250 (actual harvest: 240)
• 2020-21: 250
• 2019-20: 250
• 2018-19: 250 (actual harvest: 226)
• 2017-18: 150
• 2016-17: 100
• 2015-16: 100
• 2014-15: 150

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