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Wild game donation program

Sportsmen against hunger volunteers with crates full of ground venison.

Wild game donation program

The Department of Natural Resources wild game donation program is a perfect way for hunters to share their harvest by donating their deer at a participating processor. Each deer donated will provide an estimated 160 high-protein and nutritious meals. In addition, anyone can make a monetary donation on the DNR eLicense website, at any DNR retail license agent location or on the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

The DNR has assembled a network of processors and charities to help channel wild game donations to those in need.

Venison donations

To donate venison, visit a participating processor. Below is a list of participating processors. Please call the processor prior to drop-off to ensure they will accept your donation. All deer must be legally harvested, harvest-reported and whole to be accepted for donation.

Processor name Address City State ZIP code Phone number
Carson Village Market 10715 E. Carson City Road Carson City MI 48811 989-584-3167
Clear Water Meats 5976 Old Pipestone Road Eau Claire MI 49111 269-208-4970
Davis Meat Processing 1500 W. Marshall Road St. Johns MI 48879 989-224-7863
Hanna-Davis Fine Meats 4151 E. Eaton Highway Sunfield MI 48890 517-566-8003
Ilowski's Sausage 6650 St. Clair Highway East China MI 48054 810-329-9117
Martins Meat Processing LLC 1770 Sheldon Road Sandusky MI 48471 810-648-2498
Mike's Processing 12196 64th Ave. Allendale MI 49401 616-895-6900
Richmond Meat Packers, Inc. 68104 Main St. Richmond MI 48062 586-727-1450
Soderman's Processing 6207 Days River 24.5 Road Gladstone MI 49837 906-428-2487
Tony's Processing 1400 Joy Bell Lane West Branch MI 48661 989-345-7454
Uncle Henry's Gourmet Meats 1331 Piedmont St. Troy MI 48084 248-740-8755
IMPORTANT: ALL DEER HARVESTED IN AREAS OF KNOWN CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD) OR BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS (TB) OCCURRENCE WILL BE TESTED PRIOR TO DONATION. IF YOU ARE DONATING A DEER FROM A KNOWN CWD OR TB COUNTY, PLEASE CONTACT THE PROCESSOR TO ENSURE THEY ARE ABLE TO ACCEPT THE DEER.

Deer from the following counties must be tested for CWD prior to donation: Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Montcalm, Midland and Ogemaw.

Deer from the following counties must be tested for TB prior to donation: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Benzie, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Iosco, Mecosta, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Shiawassee.

Deer harvested within 3 miles of Clark’s Marsh in Oscoda Township in Iosco County will not be accepted as donations due to the "Do Not Eat" deer advisory still in effect because of evidence that deer in this area were more likely to have various per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) in their livers and muscle tissue. See more information about PFAS in deer.

Monetary donations

You can help offset the cost of processing and packaging venison by making a monetary donation when you purchase your hunting or fishing license.

  • If you purchase your license on DNR eLicense, or the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app, you can add your donation at checkout.
  • If purchasing your license at a store, simply tell the retailer that you want to make a donation to the wild game donation program.
  • Nonhunters can also join in and help provide food for needy families by making a donation.