An expected 100,000 deer hunters will hit the timber over the next 2 weeks for the annual Iowa shotgun deer season. Again this year, hunters are encouraged to donate hides to the Elks Leather Program. Last year statewide 4,183 deer were donated, which was a slight increase from the 2021-22 season. The deer hides are used by the Veterans Leather Program to make professionally-crafted leather gloves for veterans in wheelchairs and also turned into leather used for therapy programs for recovering veterans.
The Fairfield Elks Lodge will have a number of drop-off locations in the area for hides to be placed.
Here is a list of all drop-off locations:
Fastenal/Kinney & Sons-Mt. Pleasant
Oakland Mills Nature Center-By the shop
Nelson Company-Fairfield
Libertyville Co-op
4-way corner-Packwood
Keosauqua Lumber-Keosauqua
Old Lumber Yard-Stockport
Across from BP-Batavia
Bass Storage-Birmingham