Wisconsin DNR Urges Hunters to Combat Food Insecurity Through Deer Donation Program
WISCONSIN (WQOW) – As Wisconsin’s gun deer season approaches, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is calling on hunters to contribute to the fight against food insecurity through its Deer Donation Program. This initiative aims to provide much-needed ground venison for local food pantries, helping those in need across the state.
In 2023, over 900,000 Wisconsin residents relied on food assistance, highlighting the importance of community support in addressing food security issues. Since its inception in 2000, the Deer Donation Program has seen hunters donate upwards of 98,000 deer, translating to nearly 4 million pounds of venison reaching families in need.
Hunters looking to participate can follow a straightforward process to donate Wisconsin-harvested deer. First, they must field dress the deer and register it through GameReg, ensuring they have their registration confirmation number when dropping it off. If the deer is harvested from a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) affected county, it must be tested for CWD prior to donation. The DNR provides a list of CWD sampling locations for convenience.
Before heading to a processor, hunters should contact their chosen participating processor to confirm they can accept the donation. If donating a CWD-tested deer, hunters must inform the processor and provide a CWD barcode number.
Additionally, both hunters and non-hunters can contribute to the program through monetary donations at various license sales locations or online via their Go Wild accounts.
The gun deer season runs from November 23rd to December 1st, and the DNR encourages everyone to join in this vital initiative to help feed those in need. For more information about the Deer Donation Program, please visit the Wisconsin DNR’s website.
Source
Photo credit www.wqow.com
