Processing, Preparing, and Donating Deer and Bear Meat

Find a Meat Processor

Meat processors help ensure that harvested deer and bears are fully utilized by hunters and their families, or by those in need through venison donation programs. Many processors also allow DEC to collect biological data from deer and bears brought to their shops, which provides critical information to support DEC’s deer and bear management. For these reasons, DEC maintains a statewide list of processors that hunters can contact and utilize. Consider supporting a meat processor near you after your next successful hunt.

Cooking Deer and Bear Meat

Raw or undercooked deer and bear meat can contain harmful pathogens. Always cook deer and bear meat to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees in the thickest part. Visit New York State Department of Health’s proper care and handling of game meat webpage to learn more.

Venison Donation

DEC partners with Feeding New York State to fund, promote, and facilitate the donation of venison by hunters to those in need. Each year, hunters help address food insecurity in New York by donating 50,000-70,000 pounds of venison. After your next successful hunt, consider donating all or part of your harvested deer through one of Feeding New York State’s cooperating processors. You can also make a financial donation to Feeding New York State’s venison donation program, or make a cash gift to support venison donation when you purchase your next hunting license.

Hunters can also donate whole deer or venison directly to anyone they chose, but cannot sell or receive goods or services for venison. Here are the steps you will need to follow to donate a deer or venison to someone else.

To donate a whole deer:

1. Make sure a completed, state-issued deer harvest tag is attached to the carcass.
2. Create and attach an additional tag to the carcass that includes the date of donation and the names and addresses of both the hunter who shot the deer and the recipient of the carcass.
3. A donated deer carcass with head removed can be transported, but evidence of the sex of the deer must be intact. Additionally, create and attach a tag to the carcass that includes the name and address of the taxidermist where the head was sent and, for antlered deer, the number of points on each antler.

To donate packaged venison:

1. Create and attach a tag to the packages of venison that includes:
   • The hunter’s signature
   • The names and addresses of both the hunter who shot the deer and the recipient of the venison.
   • The hunter's hunting license number.
   • The amount of venison donated.
2. Label all packages or boxed portions of venison clearly with "venison".

This tag must remain in possession of the recipient until the venison is consumed.