Our Opinion: Hunters urged to share bounty, seek evidence of missing persons

Missouri's hunters in the past have responded to requests to share their bounty and to watch for evidence of missing persons.

As October brings cooler temperatures, outdoor enthusiasts again will be walking fields and woods in search of wildlife.

Deer hunters are encouraged to participate in Share the Harvest, a program administered by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Conservation Federation of Missouri.

The program allows hunters to share all or part of their venison with charitable agencies that help feed needy people.

Conservation officials say hunters may take their deer to an approved meat processor and let the processor know how much venison they wish to donate. The processor will package the meat, which local sponsoring organizations will pick up and take to a charitable agency for distribution.

The processing costs are the hunter's responsibility, but costs may be offset by reimbursements from the Conservation Federation or from local donations. Hunters are encouraged to check with processors about assistance with costs.

Hunters have shared generously in the past; in 2014, 3,961 hunters donated 212,343 pounds of venison to charity.

Another request that has been renewed this year comes from Missouri Missing, a not-for-profit group dedicated to solving missing persons cases in the state.

In the past, observant hunters have discovered clothing, eyeglasses and other evidence that provide clues in missing persons cases.

That evidence may help the Missouri Highway Patrol solve a case and provide answers to family and friends of a missing person.

Hunting sometimes is about much more than outdoor enthusiasts and their quarry. It also may be about feeding needy people, helping authorities solve a case or providing closure to a missing person's loved ones.