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Attention hunters: Visit our FAQ page for information about the use of centerfire, single-shot rifles for deer hunting in Illinois. 

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How can you donate venison?

Hunters sometimes ask how they can help others by donating their surplus deer. Below are a few ideas on where to start:

1. Donate to someone directly

Ask around to see if anyone near you needs venison. Check with your co-workers, neighbors, the local food pantry, or the administrators at your local school. Someone might know of a family in need and can help connect you. Ask the recipient how they want to receive the donation. Do they want the carcass to process themselves or would they prefer a few pounds of meat already processed and packaged? Talk through the options and try to accommodate the person in need to the best of your abilities. 

2. Donate your deer and/or money to a local organization/program

There are multiple organizations in the state that will accept your deer, pay for processing, and provide the venison to food pantries and/or regional food banks. This allows hunters to donate their deer without paying for processing. Sometimes they could use more funds for their program and might appreciate your financial support.

Note: You cannot legally receive or have in custody any protected game belonging to another person, except in the personal abodes of the donor or recipient, unless such protected species are tagged with the hunter’s or trapper’s name and address, the total number of individuals by species and the date such species were harvested.

Below are a few organizations in Illinois that accept venison donations:

Additional Considerations:

  • The IDNR strongly recommends deer taken in a CWD county be tested and test negative before donating meat.
  • The meat should be handled with care to avoid making someone ill. The animal should be field dressed immediately, follow proper hygiene when handling the meat and keep the meat cold.
  • The IDNR recommends following the Center for Disease Control recommendations for minimizing exposure to CWD prions.