Fewer deer hunters means less donated venison is making it to Wisconsin food pantries
From the Article:
In 2022, Wisconsin hunters killed 340,282 deer. Of those, 1,243 — fewer than 1% — were donated to local meat processors that agreed to prepare venison for donation to food pantries.
After reaching a peak in 2006 with nearly 12,000 donations, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Deer Donation Program has been shrinking since it was established in 2000.
There are just over 50 meat processors statewide participating in the program, meaning some hunters looking to donate might need to cross county lines to find a shop or a drop-off site. Meat processors must be licensed with the state to participate.
"That's definitely a problem we hear about: hunters not having a processor locally that they're able to donate (to), and a lot of them, if it's too far, it might just not be worth it,” said Grace Nugent, a wildlife biologist and the deer donation program administrator.
Hunters might also need to get the carcass tested for chronic wasting disease before donating it, adding another step in the process.
Also relevant to the program's overall health are data showing Wisconsin is seeing a general decline in hunters, meaning there are fewer people who might be willing to donate animals that would otherwise not fit in their freezers.
Still, the deer donation program has been successful in gathering 98,324 deer for donation between 2000 and 2022. That amounts to nearly 4 million pounds of donated venison, according to the DNR.
Jasen Elcombe is a captain with the Salvation Army in Superior. Venison donations provide meat to the local food pantry that often receives donated nonperishables but sometimes has to purchase meat to stock its shelves.
About 60 families use the resource in Douglas County each week, he said.
“When we have the venison donated, that’s a whole lot of meat that we can give to people,” Elcombe said. “I think around here — Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan — everyone just loves venison.”
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