Fall in Wisconsin is the beginning of events in our state, school, football, and deer hunting. The main 10-day gun season over the Thanksgiving holiday is of course the most popular, but archery/crossbow deer season began Sept. 16, and there are a few special gun seasons this months.
While many hunters keep the venison from their gun hunting successes or share with family and friends, another option for hunters is to help those in need by donating deer harvested in Wisconsin through the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) deer donation program.
Venison from donated deer is processed and distributed to food pantries across the state. Since the beginning of program back in 2000, hunters have donated over 94,000 deer, which were processed into over 3.8 million pounds of ground venison, according the DNR’s webpage.
Wisconsin has many venison donation partners, including county land and water conservation departments, food pantries, charitable organizations, Hunt for the Hungry, USDA - Wildlife Services and participating processors who all help implement and administer the program.
Hunters can donate any deer harvested legally in Wisconsin., however, deer harvested outside Wisconsin cannot be donated.
There are many participating processors throughout the state, here in Fennimore, harvested deer donations can be brought to The Butcher Shop, 4391 US Highway 18.
Owner Josh Crubel, has been processing donated deer since the program’s inception in 2000. Any deer donation must be tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD) either before or at the time of the donation.
Harvested deer must be registered before donation, but once donated processors such as Crubel and The Butcher Shop does the rest.
Donated the deer is free of charge, and hunters can retain the head and/or antlers for mounting if desired.
The donated deer are boned out, cut up and the venison is processed for pick up by area food pantries such as The Depot Exchange Food Pantry in Fennimore, which the uses the donated venison as part of their food distribution to area families in need.
As stated before, the Thanksgiving holiday hunting period is the state’s most popular deer hunting period, but Crubel wants the public to know that deer harvest donation can be accepted anytime from now until Jan. 2024.
Crubel said that last year, the Monday after the end of the 10 day gun period, he was “bombarded” with 30 deer donations on that day alone.
Crubel said he definitely does not want to turn anyone away with deer to donate, so when it comes to dropping off donated deer, “the sooner the better,” would be appreciated.
Wisconsin’s deer hunting season dates are as follows:
•Archery and crossbow - Sept. 16 -Jan. 7, 2024
•Youth deer hunt - Oct. 7-8
•Gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities - Oct. 7-15
•Gun - Nov. 18-26
•Muzzleloader - Nov. 27 -Dec. 6
•Statewide antlerless only - Dec. 7-10
While many hunters keep the venison from their gun hunting successes or share with family and friends, another option for hunters is to help those in need by donating deer harvested in Wisconsin through the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) deer donation program.
Venison from donated deer is processed and distributed to food pantries across the state. Since the beginning of program back in 2000, hunters have donated over 94,000 deer, which were processed into over 3.8 million pounds of ground venison, according the DNR’s webpage.
Wisconsin has many venison donation partners, including county land and water conservation departments, food pantries, charitable organizations, Hunt for the Hungry, USDA - Wildlife Services and participating processors who all help implement and administer the program.
Hunters can donate any deer harvested legally in Wisconsin., however, deer harvested outside Wisconsin cannot be donated.
There are many participating processors throughout the state, here in Fennimore, harvested deer donations can be brought to The Butcher Shop, 4391 US Highway 18.
Owner Josh Crubel, has been processing donated deer since the program’s inception in 2000. Any deer donation must be tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD) either before or at the time of the donation.
Harvested deer must be registered before donation, but once donated processors such as Crubel and The Butcher Shop does the rest.
Donated the deer is free of charge, and hunters can retain the head and/or antlers for mounting if desired.
The donated deer are boned out, cut up and the venison is processed for pick up by area food pantries such as The Depot Exchange Food Pantry in Fennimore, which the uses the donated venison as part of their food distribution to area families in need.
As stated before, the Thanksgiving holiday hunting period is the state’s most popular deer hunting period, but Crubel wants the public to know that deer harvest donation can be accepted anytime from now until Jan. 2024.
Crubel said that last year, the Monday after the end of the 10 day gun period, he was “bombarded” with 30 deer donations on that day alone.
Crubel said he definitely does not want to turn anyone away with deer to donate, so when it comes to dropping off donated deer, “the sooner the better,” would be appreciated.
Wisconsin’s deer hunting season dates are as follows:
•Archery and crossbow - Sept. 16 -Jan. 7, 2024
•Youth deer hunt - Oct. 7-8
•Gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities - Oct. 7-15
•Gun - Nov. 18-26
•Muzzleloader - Nov. 27 -Dec. 6
•Statewide antlerless only - Dec. 7-10
•Antlerless-only holiday hunt - Dec. 24 -Jan. 1, 2024
