The Becker County Food Pantry participates in the Hunter Harvested Deer Donation Program. In Minnesota, charitable organizations operating food assistance programs can accept donations of hunter harvested venison.

Hunters are not allowed to donate venison directly to a food shelf. They must work with an approved processing plant. Locally, that is Hoffman’s Meat Market, located at 114 W North Street in Detroit Lakes. 

Archery and firearm harvested venison is accepted. You may take your gutted, registered deer to Hoffman’s and they will have you sign documentation signing the deer over to the food shelf. There is no expense to you.

With the archery season starting soon, and the youth season starting, we wanted to get the word out to our hunters. This program is a cooperative venture of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources and the regional food banks.