ACKdeer's Plan
2025/2026 Goals:
- Reduce the Herd: Harvest 1,500+ deer, Donate 750+
- Reduce Food Insecurity: Distribute 75,000 Venison Servings
- Build Processing & Storage Facility: Commence and Ramp Up Production
- Stop Feeding Deer Campaign: Educate community, halt retail sales
- More Disposal Locations: Launch Gut Bag program
- Outreach to Residents: Launch Web Site & Newsletter
Expand ACKdeer Coalition
Support Expanded Recreational Hunting
Reduce Friction Points
Permissions to Reduce Setbacks
Promote ACK-Friendly Hunting Practices
Incent Hunter / DDP Participation
Open More Land to Hunting
Expand Deer Damage Permits (DDP’s)
Action Plan:
Collection
More Hunters
- Local Hunters Commit to Higher Production
- Remove Friction Points
- Incentives
- Open More Land to Hunting
- Obtain Permissions to Hunt with Reduced Set-backs
MassWildlife Deer Damage Permits
- Sub-Permitees
- Conservation Land
- Farms
- Public & Private Land
Disposal Locations with Expanded Hours
- Gut Pile Clean-up
Processing
New Nantucket Land Bank On-Island Facility
Year 1 – Whole Deer Processing for MassWildlife Hunters Share The Harvest Program
- Pre-Processing Cold Storage
- Produce Ground Venison Mixed with Beef or Pork
- Hire Staff
- Freezer Storage for Processed Venison
Future
- Multiple Collection Points with Transportation to Processing Facility
- Concierge Processing
- Select Cuts Processed & Shipped to Hunter
- Remainder to MassWildlife’s HSH Program
Distribution
Nourish Nantucket Distributes Through Partners Including:
- Pip & Anchor Send It Boxes
- Nantucket Food Pantry
- Year-Round from Frozen Storage
- Nourish Nantucket Prepared Meals
Education
- Venison Cooked Into Meals
- Distributed with Meal Components & Recipes
- Chef Demos & Cooking Classes
