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Wild game donation program

Sportsmen against hunger volunteers with crates full of ground venison.

Wild game donation program

The DNR 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 wild game donation program is coordinated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since 1991, MSAH has connected donors, wild-game processors and charities that feed individuals in need. An all-volunteer organization, MSAH is operated entirely by sportsmen and women committed to making a positive difference in their communities. Together, they have assembled a network of processors and charities to help channel wild-game donations into the hands of those in need.

Venison donations

To donate venison, visit a participating processor. A list of participating processors can be obtained by calling the Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger hotline at 586-552-6517 or by visiting SportsmenAgainstHunger.org.

Important: MSAH-participating processors must not accept deer harvested in the counties listed below that are areas of known chronic wasting disease or bovine tuberculosis occurrence, unless the deer from those counties are tested and no detectable levels of these diseases are found. Hunters wishing to donate deer from these counties must have their deer tested.

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. 

Tax-deductible donations can be sent to:
Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger
2101 Wood St.
Lansing, MI 48912