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Turkey Donation Program provides opportunity to help families in need this spring

Contact(s): Liz Tanner, DNR Wildlife Biologist, 608-266-2151
April 23, 2019

MADISON - Now in its third year, the Turkey Donation Program returns this spring and provides hunters the opportunity of donating their harvested turkey to needy families across the state. Donated turkeys will be processed free of charge, and the meat will be provided to local food pantries.

"This is a great opportunity for turkey hunters to participate in a sport they enjoy while also providing turkey meat to Wisconsin families in need," said Liz Tanner program coordinator with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Hunters can participate in the program by following five simple steps:

• Legally harvest and register a turkey;
• Field-dress the turkey and keep it in a cool location;
• Call a participating processor to make sure that they are prepared to accept the turkey. A list of processors can be found at dnr.wi.gov, keywords "turkey donation;"
• Drop the turkey off at a participating processor, during regular business hours, by May 31, 2019; and
• Fill out the log sheet at the processor to verify the donation. Hunters must donate the entire turkey carcass in order for the processing cost to be covered by the program (beard, tailfin, and spurs/feet may be kept).

Those interested in supporting the Deer and Turkey Donation Programs can voluntarily donate $1 or more to the Deer and Turkey Donation Programs to help cover meat-processing fees. To donate, visit any license sales location or donate online through a Go Wild account at GoWild.Wi.Gov.

For more information regarding the turkey donation program, including a list of participating processors, search the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, for keywords "turkey donation."