DNR Reminds Hunters of the Deer Donation Program

Each year, hunters, meat processors and food pantries help families in need by working closely with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and its partners to donate thousands of pounds of venison to food pantries. The Deer Donation Program was established in the year 2000. Since then, more than 91,000 deer have been donated and more than 3.6 million pounds of venison have been processed and distributed to food pantries across the state. Hunters can either donate a deer at a participating meat processor, or when they purchase a hunting license they can make a monetary donation to help cover the venison processing costs. Hunters are advised to plan ahead by knowing where participating processors are located (there are two locations in Door County, Haberli’s Deer Processing, 4259 Haberli Road, Sevastopol, 920.743.5736, and Marchants Foods Inc., County DK, Brussels, 920.825.1244; and one location in Kewaunee County, Theys Venison Processing, E1831 River Road, Casco, 920.609.0309). Hunters should also call the participating processor before dropping off a deer to make sure the processor is prepared to accept the deer. For more information about the DNR’s deer donation program, a list of other participating meat processors, CWD sampling requirements, and more on how you can help, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords “deer donation.”