You can donate Wisconsin-harvested deer through the DNR’s Deer Donation Program. The program supports Wisconsin residents in need by helping stock food pantry shelves with ground venison made from donated deer.
Since the program began in 2000, hunters have donated over 98,000 deer, totaling nearly 4 million pounds of venison, to help Wisconsinites in need.
“There are many individuals that face food insecurity, and the Deer Donation Program is a wonderful opportunity for hunters to help those in need,” says Marcus Rufledt, DNR Wildlife Program specialist.
According to data from the state Department of Health Services, more than 900,000 Wisconsin residents received food assistance in 2023.
“There remains a high demand for the venison this program provides, and we hope hunters continue to donate deer and make a difference in their communities,” says Rufledt.
A network of venison donation partners, including county land and water conservation departments, food pantries, charitable organizations, USDA-Wildlife Services, and participating meat processors, all help administer and implement the program.
Follow These 5 Steps
- Field dress the deer.
- Register the deer through GameReg. When dropping it off, you will need the registration confirmation number.
- Test the deer for CWD before taking the deer to a processor if harvested from a CWD-affected county. A list of CWD sampling locations is available on the DNR’s Chronic Wasting Disease Sampling webpage: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/registersample
- Contact a participating processor before dropping off the deer to ensure they have the capacity to accept it. More processors may be added later in the season: https://widnr.widen.net/s/mfx7dpjzzq/processor_deer_donation_list
- Bring the deer to the processor. If donating a deer being tested for CWD, inform the processor and provide the CWD barcode number. The processor will not distribute the deer until the results are known.
