Coldwater Noon Club and Branch Area Food Pantry Join Forces to Support the Hungry This Deer Season
The Coldwater Noon Club has partnered with the Branch Area Food Pantry to assist local residents in need during the 2024 deer hunting season.
Volunteers at the Branch Area Food Pantry, located at 22 Pierson St. in Coldwater, coordinate food collection and distribution every Tuesday. In 2024, students from Legg Middle School actively participated in a recent donation drive.
Simple Donation Process for Hunters
Hunters are asked to field-dress their deer before delivering the carcass to one of four authorized processing facilities located in Branch and Hillsdale counties.
- Thompson’s Deer Processing, 252 W. Pearl Road, Coldwater, 517-462-5697
- Wonders Deer Processing, 748 Slisher Road, Bronson, 517-736-4609
- Finley’s Deer Processing, 234 Ridge Road, Quincy, 260-343-1100
- M&M Smokehouse, 4880 Hudson Road, Osseo, 517-523-2121
The Coldwater Noon Club covers all associated processing costs, ensuring that the donated venison is then provided directly to the food pantry.
Meat Processing and Distribution Details
Tim Hart, a representative for both the Food Pantry Board and the Coldwater Noon Club Foundation, stated that donation estimates range up to 20 deer, with hopes of receiving around 15 carcasses this season.
Processors convert donated deer into venison burgers to maximize yield for pantry distribution. Coordination between processors, the food pantry, and the Noon Club ensures timely payment and efficient delivery of meat supplies.
Michigan Deer Harvest Regulations and Population Management
Hunters in Branch County may harvest up to two antlered deer by obtaining a deer combo license, which includes two tags. Additionally, hunters may purchase tags allowing for a maximum of 10 antlerless deer.
State hunting license fees for 2025 are as follows:
- Basic license: $11 (residents), $151 (non-residents), $5 (seniors 65+), $6 (juniors 17 and under)
- Each additional deer tag: $20 for residents and nonresidents, $8 for senior residents
- Deer Combo two-tag: $40 (residents), $190 (nonresidents), $28 (senior residents)
Restricted antlered deer tags require that bucks have a minimum of four points on one antler, each point at least one inch in length.
State law mandates hunters report their deer harvest within 72 hours or prior to transferring possession, achievable online or via mobile app.
Ecological and Wildlife Management Context
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations in Branch, St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo counties require active management, with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources estimating the removal of approximately 16,000 deer necessary to stabilize local populations.
Antlerless deer permits are limited but offer hunters an opportunity to contribute to controlling population density, which is essential for maintaining ecosystem balance and reducing human-wildlife conflicts.
Additional reporting and sources from: Donate your deer as Coldwater Noon Club and Branch Area Food Pantry team up for the hungry
