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Hunting Michigan’s Early Antlerless Season? Consider Donating Your Doe

Hunting Michigan’s Early Antlerless Season? Consider Donating Your Doe

Michigan’s deer season gets an early start this year, and hunters heading afield for the Early Antlerless Firearm Season on September 12–13, 2026 have an opportunity to make their harvest mean even more.

If you are planning to take an antlerless deer that weekend, consider donating a doe to Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger.

Your harvest can become nutritious venison for Michigan families in need.

A Great Weekend to Put an Extra Doe to Work

Michigan’s Early Antlerless Firearm Season provides hunters with an additional opportunity to harvest antlerless deer. For hunters with access to healthy deer numbers, it can also be an ideal time to harvest a deer specifically for donation.

Instead of waiting until a deer is down to decide whether you have room in the freezer, make the decision before opening morning:

If the opportunity presents itself, one of my does is going to Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger.

MSAH works with participating wild game processors across Michigan to turn donated deer into professionally processed ground venison that is distributed to food banks, food pantries, shelters, and other hunger-relief organizations.

And there is no processing cost to the hunter for a whole-deer donation.

Find Your Deer Donation Processor Before September 12

The most important thing you can do before the Early Antlerless Season is identify where you will take your deer.

Don’t wait until you have a deer in the truck.

Before September 12:

Find a Participating Deer Processor Near You

Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger maintains a statewide processor list and map to help hunters locate participating deer processors.

Find a Processor Near You →

We recommend contacting your processor before the season so you know exactly where to go and what to expect when you arrive.

Make Your September Hunt Mean More

Michigan hunters play an important role in managing the state’s deer herd. Donating an antlerless deer allows that harvest to serve another purpose as well.

A deer harvested during the September 12–13 Early Antlerless Season can become high-quality protein for people in the same Michigan communities where we live, work, and hunt.

So while you’re checking trail cameras, sighting in your firearm, and getting your gear ready, add one more thing to your preseason checklist:

Find your processor. Save the number. Consider donating your doe.

Support the Mission Even If You’re Not Hunting

Not every supporter will be in the woods on September 12–13, but you can still help put Michigan venison on the tables of families in need.

Your financial support helps Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger pay participating processors, move donated venison into local communities, and expand deer donation opportunities across the state.

Make a Donation to Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger →

Whether you donate a deer, make a financial contribution, or help spread the word, you are helping Michigan hunters turn a renewable natural resource into meals for our neighbors.

Together, Michigan hunters and supporters can turn a successful weekend in the woods into meals for families across our state.