Before You Head to the Woods: Make a Plan to Donate a Deer This Season
Michigan’s 2026 deer season is approaching. Hunters are checking trail cameras, scouting properties and preparing their equipment—but there is one more decision worth making before opening day:
If you have the opportunity, will you donate a deer to help feed Michigan families?
A donated deer can provide an estimated 160 nutritious, high-protein meals. Your harvest can help stock local food pantries and provide families with quality protein that is often difficult or expensive to obtain.
The best time to make that decision is now—not after a successful hunt.
Put deer donation in your hunting plan
The 2026 Liberty Hunt and Early Antlerless Firearm Season begin September 12, followed by the opening of archery season on October 1.
Before you head into the woods, take a few minutes to:
- Find a participating processor near where you hunt.
- Save the processor’s address and phone number.
- Confirm its hours and capacity before your hunt.
- Plan how you will transport your deer.
- Invite another hunter to make the same commitment.
Having a plan removes the uncertainty from the moment. When a harvest opportunity presents itself, you will already know where to take the deer and what needs to be done.
Donating a deer is simple—and free to the hunter
Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger works with participating meat processors across the state to turn donated deer into professionally processed ground venison for local food banks, pantries and hunger-relief organizations.
The process is straightforward:
- Harvest and properly field-dress your deer.
- Validate the kill tag and attach it as required.
- Report the harvest before transferring the deer to a processor.
- Bring the whole deer to a participating Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger processor.
- The processor handles the rest at no cost to you.
Testing for chronic wasting disease or bovine tuberculosis may be required in certain areas. Hunters should always review the current Michigan deer regulations before heading into the field.
Find your processor before opening day
Do not wait until the deer is already in your truck to decide where to take it. Processing availability, intake hours and capacity can vary during the busiest parts of the season.
Use our statewide directory to identify the best location for your hunting area:
Find a Participating Deer Processor
Save the processor’s information in your phone and consider calling before your hunt to confirm its current donation procedures.
Your harvest can serve a greater purpose
Hunters have always understood that the value of a harvest extends beyond the hunt itself. Donating a deer is a practical way to continue Michigan’s traditions of conservation, responsible wildlife management and caring for our neighbors.
One hunter can provide approximately 160 meals.
A hunting camp can provide hundreds.
Together, Michigan’s hunting community can help put nutritious venison on tables throughout the state.
Make the commitment today
Before opening day, make deer donation part of your 2026 hunting plan.
Find your processor. Save the information. Tell the people you hunt with. Then, if the opportunity presents itself, donate a deer and help feed Michigan families.
Find a Processor and Make Your Plan
Not a hunter—or unable to donate a deer this season? You can still help cover the cost of processing and distributing donated venison.