The numbers are in, and Minnesota’s first statewide venison donation program fell short of expectations.

Hunters donated 1,977 deer — or about 78,000 pounds of venison — to food shelves last fall. But funding was available to process about 4,000 deer.

Minnesota hunters killed 260,000 deer last season.

By comparison, Wisconsin hunters killed 518,000 deer and donated 9,200, or about 414,000 pounds of venison, to food shelves last year under a similar program. And Iowa hunters donated about 7,000 deer.

Still, officials are optimistic the program will catch on.

“I think it’s pretty good,’‘ said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game program coordinator. “As the program gets more recognition, I think it will increase.’‘

Under the Minnesota program, processors were paid $70 to butcher each donated deer. In the past, hunters could donate deer to food shelves but had to pay for processing. Under the program, costs were offset through a $160,000 appropriation approved by the 2007 Legislature, an increase in nonresident hunting license fees and voluntary donations from hunters.