Help Fight Food Insecurity with the DNR’s Deer Donation Program

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages hunters to 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.

“There are many individuals that face food insecurity, and the Deer Donation Program is a wonderful opportunity for hunters to help those in need,” said Marcus Rufledt, DNR Wildlife Program specialist. “According to data from the Wisconsin 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.”

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. 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.

Hunters interested in donating a Wisconsin-harvested deer to the Deer Donation Program should follow these steps:

1. Field dress the deer.
2. Register the deer through GameReg. When dropping it off, you will need the registration confirmation number.
3. 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. 
4. 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. 
5. 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.

Hunters and non-hunters may also support the Deer Donation Program through a monetary donation at any license sales location or online through their Go Wild account. Visit Wisconsin’s Deer Donation Program webpage to learn more about the program. 

Avoid Lead In Venison

Deer harvested with lead bullets have been shown to have tiny lead particles or fragments remaining in a portion of the processed meat. Some of the lead fragments may be too small to see during processing. Although research has not linked lead in venison to human health effects, hunters are encouraged to use non-lead ammunition. Visit the DNR’s Safely Eating Venison webpage for more information and steps to reduce potential exposure.

Marcus.Rufledt@wisconsin.gov or 608-261-7589