According to data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, more than 900,000 Wisconsin residents received food assistance in 2022. The DNR’s Deer Donation Program aims to alleviate some of that need by providing ground venison to food pantries throughout the state.
Wisconsin hunters supply the venison that stocks these shelves. Since the program began in 2000, hunters have donated 98,000 deer, totaling over 3.9 million pounds of venison.
The program runs through the end of deer hunting, so hunters who want to help out this holiday season can visit the Deer Donation Program webpage to learn how to contribute to this impactful program.
Archery and crossbow seasons remain open statewide through Jan. 7, 2024, and extend until Jan. 31, 2024, in metro subunits and in deer management units with extended archery and crossbow seasons. In addition, an Antlerless-Only Holiday Hunt will run from Dec. 24, 2023, until Jan. 1, 2024, in select Farmland Zone units
Hunters may use any unfilled antlerless harvest authorization during any of these hunts, but the authorization must be used in the zone, county, and land type designated on the harvest authorization. Only antlerless deer may be harvested during the statewide antlerless-only hunt and antlerless-only holiday hunt, regardless of weapon type.
Hunters are encouraged to double-check the regulations for information on the hunting seasons offered in their area.