Wisconsin's Deer Donation Program
Deer Donation Program
Hunters can help Wisconsinites in need by donating deer harvested in Wisconsin through the DNR's deer donation program.
Venison from donated deer is processed and distributed to food pantries across the state. Since the program began in 2000, hunters have donated over 100,000 deer, which were processed into over four million pounds of ground venison.
Wisconsin has a network of venison donation partners, including county land and water conservation departments, food pantries, charitable organizations, Hunt for the Hungry, USDA - Wildlife Services and participating processors, who help implement and administer the program.
LIST OF PLACES TO DONATE DEER
This is a list of places that have agreed to participate in the Deer Donation Program as donation sites. Please verify operating times with them before donating a deer. The participation column indicates the times of the year they will accept deer donations. The Year-Round participation cycle closes on Jan. 31 and processors must sign on for the following year to continue accepting deer donations.
County Name Address Phone Type Participation CWD Testing Site ASHLAND Pearce's Sausage Kitchen 61327 Dahlstrom Rd, Ashland 715-682-3742 Processor Year-Round No BARRON Louie's Finer Meats 2025 Superior Ave, Cumberland 715-822-4728 Processor Year-Round No BROWN Paul's Pantry Inc. 1513 Leo Frigo Way, Green Bay 920-433-03-43 Drop-Off Only Year-Round No BURNETT Lock and Load 21125 E River Rd, Grantsburg 715-448-2931 Processor Open Deer Seasons No CALUMET Hickory Hills Country Meats W3445 Hickory Hills Rd, Chilton 920-849-2618 Processor Open Deer Seasons No CHIPPEWA JNE Meats 4257 N Prairie View Rd, Chippewa Falls 715-944-9086 Processor Year-Round No COLUMBIA D&G Custom Meat Processing N4173 US-51, Poynette 608-617-2470 Processor Call Ahead No CRAWFORD Eastman Locker 107 N Main St, Eastman 608-874-4331 Processor Open Deer Seasons Yes DANE Stoddard’s 205 E Cottage Grove Rd, Cottage Grove 608-839-4228 Processor 9-Day Gun Deer Season No DODGE Pernat Haase Meats N4202 N4202 Co Rd M, Juneau 920-386-3340 Processor Year-Round No DODGE LeRoy Meats 739 W State St, Fox Lake 920-485-2554 Processor Year-Round Yes DOOR Marchant's Meats 9420 Cemetery Rd, Brussels 920-993-7015 Processor Year-Round (30 Deer Max) No DOUGLAS Hursh Meat Processing 10083 Oak Rd, Poplar 715-364-6855 Processor Open Deer Seasons Yes DUNN Johnny's Meats 121 Main St, Ridgeland 715-949-1999 Processor Open Deer Seasons No EAU CLAIRE Mike's Star Market 2238 Heimstead Rd, Eau Claire 715-552-3842 Processor Year-Round Yes EAU CLAIRE Vojtik's Stockyard Meat Market S13208 County Hwy H, Fairchild 715-533-0083 Processor No JUNEAU Wisconsin River Meats N5340 County Rd HH, Mauston 608-847-7413 Processor Year-Round No KEWAUNEE Carnival Deer Processing N9153 Cherry Tree Rd, Algoma 920-493-6820 Processor Open Deer Seasons Yes LA CROSSE St. Joe's Country Market W2721 STH 33, La Crosse 608-788-1575 Processor Year-Round Yes LANGLADE Arrowood's Wildside W7498 WI-47, Antigo 715-489-3501 Processor Open Deer Seasons Yes LINCOLN Geiss Meat Service W4490 Pope Rd, Merrill 715-536-5283 Processor Year-Round Yes MANITOWOC BRW Processing 512 W Washington St, Valders 920-901-8486 Processor Year-Round No MARATHON Custom Meats 1300 WI-107, Marathon City 715-743-3134 Processor Open Deer Seasons Yes MARINETTE Meatski's Quality Meats W11124 STH 64, Pound 920-897-3392 Processor Open Deer Seasons No MARINETTE Liljestrand’s One Stop 701 Main St, Marinette 715-732-4152 Processor Year-Round No MARQUETTE Marquette County Services Center 480 Underwood Ave, Montello 608-450-0022 Drop-Off Only 11/26-11/29
11:00AM-1:00PMYes MONROE The Meat Shop 25321 Grain Ave, Tomah 608-372-6039 Processor Open Deer Seasons No OCONTO Hillcrest Meats 3180 Volk Ln, Oconto 920-516-7405 Processor Year-Round No OCONTO Wisco Meats 9607 Charolais Rd, Coleman 920-585-3789 Processor Open Deer Seasons No ONEIDA Lake Tomahawk Meat Market 7259 WI-47, Lake Tomahawk 715-277-3337 Processor Open Deer Seasons Yes ONEIDA TJ's Butcher Block 8762 US-51, Minocqua 715-356-5258 Processor Open Deer Seasons No PIERCE Ptacek's IGA 1449 Orrin Rd, Prescott 715-262-5636 Processor Open Deer Seasons No PORTAGE People's Meat Market 6811 Burr Oak Rd, Stevens Point 715-592-6328 Processor Year-Round No SAWYER Whiskey Ridge Processing 10008 WI-27, Radisson 715-945-2414 Processor Year-Round No SHAWANO Kropf's Meat Processing N7666 Kolpack Rd, Bowler 715-793-4675 Processor Open Deer Seasons No ST. CROIX Deer's Food Locker 210 Main St N, Deer Park 715-269-5118 Processor Open Deer Seasons No ST. CROIX Powers Wild Game 1795 85th St, New Richmond 715-781-4811 Processor Open Deer Seasons No TAYLOR K&T Meat Processing W14681 WI-73, Sheldon 715-668-5233 Processor Year-Round Yes TAYLOR Hickory Nutz Sausage N3009 Sunset Rd, Medford 715-748-4828 Processor Open Deer Seasons No TREMPEALEAU Bushy's Meat Market 23553 Adams St, Independence 715-985-3613 Processor Open Deer Seasons No VERNON Westby Locker and Meat 406 N Main St, Westby 608-634-4515 Processor Year-Round Yes VILAS Prime Choice Meat Market 1144 US-45, Eagle River 715-479-4456 Processor Year-Round No WOOD J&S Processing 11656 Grant Ln, Marshfield 715-676-3654 Processor Open Deer Seasons No WOOD OMG Butchering 10624 WI-73, Pittsville 715-393-0206 Processor Open Deer Seasons No WOOD Pittsville Meats 5328 2nd Ave, Pittsville 715-884-6816 Processor Open Deer Seasons No DONATED VENISON DISTRUBITON LIST
This is a list of charitable organizations that have signed up to receive venison donations through the Deer Donation Program. Venison is distributed when available and it is not guaranteed that each pantry will have venison in stock at any given time.
County Name Address Phone - Ruby's Heart Inc. - Pop-Up Pantries Various Locations 651-842-9330 ADAMS Adams Food Pantry 1874 STH 13, Friendship 608-393-2641 ASHLAND/BAYFIELD The BRICK Ministries 420 Ellis Ave S, Ashland 715-682-7425 BARRON Benjamin House Emergency Shelter 1107 Heart Island Pkwy, Rice Lake 715-736-2437 BARRON Cumberland Area Food Pantry 1290 1st Ave, Cumberland 651-757-5086 BARRON Heart Island Family Enrichment Center 1108 Heart Island Parkway 715-434-4332 BARRON St. Vincent de Paul - Pantry & Kitchen 40 S Main St, Rice Lake 715-234-2372 BARRON We Share Food Pantry 418 Royal Crest Dr, Rice Lake 715-205-8181 BAYFIELD Core Community Resources 257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield 715-779-3457 BROWN Paul's Pantry Inc. 1513 Leo Frigo Way, Green Bay 920-433-03-43 BUFFALO Buffalo County Food Pantry W1469 Co Road E, Alma 608-685-4946 BUFFALO Mondovi Area Food Pantry 125 E Hudson St, Mondovi 715-495-5275 BURNETT Burnett County Food Pantry 26356 Lakeland Ave S, Webster 715-349-8155 BURNETT Grantsburg Area Food Shelf 320 Brad St, Grantsburg 715-222-4370 CHIPPEWA Cornell Food Pantry 401 S 2nd St, Cornell 715-827-0894 CRAWFORD Couleecap 200 E Blackhawk Ave, Praire du Chien 608-326-2463 DANE Second Harvest Foodbank of S. WI 2802 Dairy Dr, Madison 608-216-7241 EAU CLAIRE Augusta Area Food Pantry 204 N Stone St, Augusta 715-225-4965 EAU CLAIRE Fall Creek Community Cupboard 704 Kennedy Ave, Eau Claire 715-877-2330 EAU CLAIRE Hope Gospel Mission 2650 Mercantile Dr, Eau Claire 715-552-5566 x1304 EAU CLAIRE St. Vincent de Paul 40 S Main St, Rice Lake 715-234-2372 EAU CLAIRE The Community Table 320 Putnam St, Eau Claire 715-835-4977 x9 FOREST Wasmogishek Food Pantry 601 N Summit Ave, Crandon 715-478-2730 JUNEAU Community Sharing Pantry 1 Kennedy St, Mauston 608-847-5454 LA CROSSE Our Savior's Lutheran Church 612 Division St, La Crosse 608-792-2954 LANGLADE Antigo Area Community Food Pantry 2120 Progress Blvd, Antigo 715-623-1103 LANGLADE White Lake Area Christian Food Pantry 638 Bissell St, White Lake 715-882-9543 LINCOLN Community Food Pantry of Merrill 503 S Center Ave, Merrill 715-536-4505 LINCOLN Tomahawk Emergency Food Pantry W8309 STH 86, Tomahawk 715-453-1386 LINCOLN Trinity Open Hearts Food Pantry 107 N State St, Merrill 715-675-4928 MANITOWOC Peter's Pantry 843 S 21st St, Manitowoc 920-682-6989 MARATHON King's Food Pantry 210433 State Hwy 13, Spencer 715-659-5181 MARINETTE Crivitz Area Food Pantry 216 S US Hwy 141, Crivitz 715-927-4663 MARINETTE St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry 2000 Cleveland, Marinette 715-201-3510 MARQUETTE Care & Share Food Bank N2975 WI-22, Montello 608-369-1059 MILWAUKEE Hunger Task Force 5000 W Electric Ave, West Milwaukee 414-238-6473 MONROE Neighbor for Neighbor Food Pantry 1118 W Veterans St, Tomah 608-372-6737 MONROE Cashton Cupboard 199 Front St, Cashton 608-654-5770 OCONTO Bread By The Bay 641 Washington St, Oconto 920-373-0906 OCONTO Kingdom Come Food Pantry 520 N Locust St, Oconto Falls 920-604-2729 OCONTO Cans of Hope 221 E Main St, Lena 920-246-3358 OCONTO Feed My Sheep 8136 Co Rd Z, Pound 920-246-2295 ONEIDA Camp American Legion 8529 Co Road D, Oneida 715-277-2510 ONEIDA Rhinelander Food Pantry 627 Coon St, Rhinelander 715-369-7237 PIERCE Pierce County Food Pantry 440 N. Maple St, Ellsworth 715-273-2070 POLK Amery Area Food Pantry 230 Deronda St, Amery 715-268-5999 POLK Lifeline Food Pantry 560 5th St, Clear Lake 715-263-3846 RUSK Bruce Food Pantry 730 N. 2nd St, Bruce 715-868-3565 SAWYER Hayward Community Food Shelf 16216 W Highway 635, Hayward 715-634-4237 SHAWANO Wittenberg Food Pantry 702 S Webb St, Wittenberg 715-460-6318 TAYLOR ICAA Food Pantry 508 S. 8th St, Medford 715-415-2457 TAYLOR Rib Lake Community Food Pantry 1300 Church Street, Rib Lake 715-427-3670 TREMPEALEAU G-E-T Community Food Pantry 20237 W Ridge Ave, Galesville 608-399-8440 TREMPEALEAU Tri-County Food Pantry 50965, Industrial Road, Osseo 715-797-2188 VERNON Bethel Butikk Food Pantry 341 Black River Ave, Westby 608-634-3473 VERNON Stoddard Food Pantry 300 N West St, Stoddard 608-780-2599 VILAS Lakeland Pantry 1707 Hwy 51 N, Arbor Vitae 715-358-2222 VILAS Vilas Food Pantry 1013 N Railroad St, Eagle River 920-284-9515 WOOD St. Vincent DePaul Outreach 149 N Central Ave, Marshfield 715-387-0395 WOOD Pittsville Area Neighbors Shelf 5318 1st Ave, Pittsville 715-884-2895 HOW TO DONATE YOUR WISCONSIN DEER
Hunters can donate any deer harvested legally in Wisconsin. Deer harvested outside Wisconsin cannot be donated. Deer harvested in a listed county affected by chronic wasting disease (CWD) must be tested for CWD before or at the time of donation (see below).
- Field-dress and register your deer prior to dropping it off at a processor/drop-off location. Handle the carcass as if it was destined for your own table. A couple of bags of ice placed in the cavity will help preserve the carcass in warm weather.
- Register your deer. Write down your registration confirmation number as you will need it to fill out the Hunter Deer Donation Log Sheet; this number can be retrieved through your Go Wild account or by calling DNR Customer Service (1-888-936-7463). If your deer was harvested from one of the CWD-affected counties, please ensure you completed the required CWD testing before donating.
- Call ahead! Contact one of the participating processors before dropping off your deer to ensure they have space to accept it. More processors may be added later in the season, so check back if you don't see one currently in your area.
- Drop off your deer at a participating processor.
Are you looking for a place to donate a deer near you?. See a list of processors and drop-off locations in the Donated Venison Distribution List tab above.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN DROPPING OFF YOUR DEER
Hunters can donate the entire deer free of charge and retain the head and antlers for mounting if desired.
When dropping your deer off at a processor, you will be asked to complete the log sheet indicating your desire to donate the deer. We'll do the rest. The donated deer will be processed, and the venison will be distributed to charitable organizations to help feed those Wisconsinites in need of food assistance.
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TESTING REQUIREMENTS
Please test donated deer either before or at the time of donation as required below. The processor may hold the donated deer or processed venison until the test results are known.
No CWD Testing Required CWD Test Adult Deer CWD Test All Deer Ashland
Barron
Bayfield
Brown
Burnett
Calumet
Clark
Door
Douglas
Florence
Forest
Iron
Kewaunee
La Crosse
Marinette
Outagamie
Ozaukee
Pepin
Price
Rusk
St. Croix
Sawyer
Taylor
Washburn
Buffalo
Chippewa
Dunn
Fond Du Lac
Green Lake
Jackson
Langlade
Lincoln
Manitowoc
Marathon
Marquette
Milwaukee
Monroe
Oconto
Oneida
Pierce
Polk
Portage
Shawano
Sheboygan
Trempealeau
Vilas
Waupaca
Winnebago
Waushara
Washington
Wood
Adams
Columbia
Crawford
Dane
Dodge
Eau Claire
Grant
Green
Iowa
Jefferson
Juneau
Kenosha
Lafayette
Menominee
Racine
Richland
Rock
Sauk
Vernon
Walworth
Waukesha
DEER DONATION PARTNERS PROGRAM
The DNR is partnering with individuals and organizations to provide convenient deer donation drop-off locations through the Deer Donation Partners Program during the open deer hunting seasons. Volunteers will host a deer donation drop-off site so hunters can donate their legally harvested deer to help feed those in need, but where there are no locally participating processors. Partners will donate the cost of a refrigerated trailer to collect and transport donated deer to neighboring participating processors. Drop-off locations will be listed on the Deer Donation Program's Processor and Pantry list. Check out the list under "How to Donate Your Wisconsin Deer" to see if any deer drop-off sites are listed in your county. Contact Marcus Rufledt, Wildlife Program Specialist, for more information on this new program.
MAKE A FINANCIAL DONATION TO THE DEER DONATION PROGRAM
Hunters and the public can voluntarily donate $1 or more to the Deer Donation Program to help cover meat processing fees. You can donate at any DNR license sales location or online through your Go Wild account.
LEAD BULLETS AND VENISON
Deer harvested with lead bullets have been shown to have tiny lead pieces or fragments remaining in a portion of the processed meat. This is especially true for ground venison. Lead is toxic to humans, even in very low amounts. Children under six years old and pregnant women are at the greatest risk from lead exposure. Consider switching to non-toxic, lead-free ammunition, such as copper, or to bowhunting, to reduce exposure to lead for venison recipients. Visit the safely eating venison page for recommendations on reducing the risk of lead in venison.