Why do we not have overflowing stocks at the Maui Food Bank?

I know the economy is rough. And I usually can only give dollars and quarters and canned food and pasta to the mail carrier once a year or whatever is in my cupboard during other nearby food drives.

But I don't get it.

Maui still must have the richest population in the nation per capita aside from Beverly Hills. OPRAH FREAKIN' LIVES HERE!!! It just confuses me. I'm not done with this blog. I'm going to call the Food Bank people tomorrow and see how they're doing. But I know they are asking the public for donations right now, especially big bags of rice.

Like I said, times are tough. Really tough.

And at a recent County Council meeting during a discussion about the axis deer problem a Food Bank representative said they'd like to get a program going where they can take any extra meat from the hunters planned to help reduce the population -- and give its clientele real and very tasty meat that's easy and fast to prepare.

Now, I haven't had axis deer, but I've hunted my whole life and eaten plenty of white tail. And the loin meat is perhaps the finest cut you'll find on any animal, especially with wild rice and a morel mushroom sauce (Wow! But be careful not to overcook it.). The ribs and some of the other cuts can be pretty gamey, but there are a ton of recipes to cut the flavor. I recommend the stews with bacon and red wine.

I hear axis has a slightly peppery taste and nice and lean while still having some marble to it.

So here's a shout out. If you know anyone who's got the lowdown on this issue from the USDA or state Department of Health who can connect with county Council Member Mike White, 270-5507, since he is heading the program to study culling the herds, please do.

We need to be able to cut the red tape and make sure the fresh kill gets processed properly, something my stepdad the butcher and his buddies used to do for free. I know, for instance, that Maui Cattle Co. has a nice facility where it slices up it lamb and beef.

How about it, Maui Cattle Co., wanna earn some brownie points with God?

I know a lot of people are horrified by hunting, but this is for food and for people who need it. Nowadays, a lot of those customers of the Food Bank are regular folks hit hard by this junky economy that won't go away, not that it should matter who the customers are. An empty belly is an empty belly on anyone. But a lot of folks in need now, well, they got kids to feed, and they're working three or four jobs to keep it together.

And venison has been a good enough source of protein for many civilizations.

So, I know I'm gonna get my rifle shipped from home and licensed here properly and do my part when the system is in place, hopefully soon. If I can't give them a million bucks -- like some residents are well capable of doing -- I can do some shooting, tracking and cutting.

And I know it's possible, because like I said, other states do it, maybe the county and state and feds should look at the models organized in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The overabundance of deer is virtually a nationwide problem since we decided that wolves and coyotes scared us and the generations of hunting families dwindled.

I'm gonna make some calls. I hope you do, too. Or, with the holidays coming up, why don't ya write a big fat check to Maui Food Bank. Here's their contact information: 760 Kolu Street Wailuku, HI 96793-1438 (808) 243-9500