The federal government shutdown will see 42 million people in the nation, 700,000 in Wisconsin, without emergency food assistance in November. Wisconsin hunters can help by donating deer to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Deer Donation Program.
The donated deer help stock food pantries throughout the state.
“Community pantries all over Wisconsin are seeing a rising demand for food, especially as Wisconsinites lose access to food assistance due to the federal government shutdown,” DNR Secretary Karen Hyun said in a statement. “Our Deer Donation Program helps provide nutrition-packed options like venison and we are optimistic hunters will continue their role in combating hunger in Wisconsin through this program.”
More than 700,000 residents, or about 12% of Wisconsin’s population, received food assistance in 2024. Since 2000, hunters have donated more than 100,000 deer, totaling over 4 million pounds of ground venison.
With the loss of SNAP benefits in November, demand is expected to rise.
Deer harvested outside Wisconsin cannot be donated. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services requires deer harvested in certain counties to be tested for chronic wasting disease before or at the time of donation.
Visit Wisconsin’s deer donation program website to learn more about the program.
