September 30, 2025 –Hunters Feeding Illinois is back for its fourth season, continuing its mission to provide lean protein to families in need across the state. The program, a collaboration between Feeding Illinois, Access Illinois Outdoors, Southern Illinois Food Pantry Network, and University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Education, connects hunters, meat processors, and food pantries.
This year, food pantries in 50 Illinois counties will participate. Hunters can donate whole harvested deer at no cost, with meat processors turning the venison into ground meat for local food pantries. Donors are encouraged to call processors ahead of time, as space is limited and fills quickly during peak hunting season.
Due to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Pub. L. No. 119-21), University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Education will be phasing out its leadership of the program. While official funding ends September 30, 2025, limited operations may continue into early 2026 using remaining funds.
Participating processors include:
- River Bend Wild Game (St. Joseph)
- Moweaqua Packing Plant (Moweaqua)
- Turasky Meats (Springfield)
- Midstate Meats (Springfield)
- Bittners Meat Co. (Eureka)
- Connelly Locker (Martinsville)
- Oconee Chop Shop (Oconee)
- Lambdin Farms (Sullivan)
- Shirley Farms (DeSoto)
- Sanchez Meat Processing (DuQuoin)
- Charlie’s Deer Processing (Bridgeport)
- And more across Central and Southern Illinois
Financial gifts are matched dollar-for-dollar. A $50 donation becomes $100, enough to process one deer and provide up to 375 meals. Donations can be made online. Last season, the program provided nearly 26,000 pounds of venison—enough for an estimated 97,000 meals to nearly 50,000 families.
For details, recipes, or to get involved, visit go.illinois.edu/deerdonation or email HuntersFeeding-IL@illinois.edu.
