Meat Processors in Wisconsin
483 processors across 69 counties · 135 take custom orders · 55 handle wild game
Donate a deer in Wisconsin: Wisconsin Deer Donation Program
Donate any deer legally harvested in Wisconsin at no cost to you — keep the head and antlers if you want them mounted. Register and field-dress the deer, then drop it at a participating processor. The venison is distributed to food pantries statewide; hunters have donated over 100,000 deer since 2000.
Wisconsin Deer Donation Program — official program page · See all 52 participating shops
Browse by county
- Ashland (6)
- Barron (12)
- Bayfield (1)
- Brown (19)
- Buffalo (2)
- Burnett (6)
- Calumet (4)
- Chippewa (10)
- Clark (14)
- Columbia (6)
- Crawford (3)
- Dane (23)
- Dodge (13)
- Door (9)
- Douglas (3)
- Dunn (6)
- Eau Claire (9)
- Florence (1)
- Fond du Lac (9)
- Forest (1)
- Grant (7)
- Green (8)
- Green Lake (2)
- Jackson (2)
- Jefferson (13)
- Juneau (2)
- Kenosha (9)
- Kewaunee (6)
- La Crosse (10)
- Lafayette (3)
- Langlade (5)
- Lincoln (3)
- Manitowoc (7)
- Marathon (13)
- Marinette (7)
- Marquette (2)
- Milwaukee (29)
- Monroe (9)
- Oconto (6)
- Oneida (3)
- Outagamie (12)
- Ozaukee (1)
- Pepin (3)
- Pierce (9)
- Polk (10)
- Portage (13)
- Price (2)
- Racine (5)
- Richland (1)
- Rock (10)
- Rusk (5)
- Saint Croix (4)
- Sauk (10)
- Sawyer (2)
- Shawano (13)
- Sheboygan (16)
- St. Croix (5)
- Taylor (6)
- Trempealeau (6)
- Vernon (5)
- Vilas (1)
- Walworth (8)
- Washburn (2)
- Washington (4)
- Waukesha (4)
- Waupaca (1)
- Waushara (6)
- Winnebago (6)
- Wood (10)
Common questions
- How much does deer processing cost in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has 159 confirmed custom processors listed here, and each shop sets its own price. For the 2025-2026 season, basic deer processing (skinning, cutting, grinding, wrapping) typically runs $100 to $150 at most Midwest shops, with the full national range roughly $75 to $250. Some processors charge per pound instead, commonly around $3.50 per pound of finished meat with minimums near $180. Specialty products cost extra: summer sausage and brats often add $50 to $100, jerky $30 to $75. Vacuum sealing usually costs more than paper wrap. Prices vary by shop, so call ahead and ask what's included. If cost is the deciding factor, 52 Wisconsin shops accept donated deer through Wisconsin Deer Donation Program, and that processing is free to the hunter.
Prices as of the 2025-2026 season. More on deer processing cost.
- How long does deer processing take?
Most shops run 2 to 3 weeks during the season, longer at peak (November). Popular lockers book out weeks ahead, and some stop taking deer when full. Call before you drive.
- When is deer season in Wisconsin?
Deer season dates in Wisconsin are set each year by Wisconsin DNR, and they change from season to season. Check the Wisconsin DNR deer page for the current archery, firearm, and muzzleloader dates before you plan a hunt.
- What do USDA inspected, state inspected, and custom exempt mean?
USDA inspected means a federal inspector is in the plant and the meat can be sold across state lines. State inspected means the state program inspects the plant and the meat can be sold inside that state. Custom exempt means the shop processes your own animal for you, and the meat comes back marked Not for Sale. Most small town lockers are custom exempt. How listings work.
- Can I donate a deer in Wisconsin?
Yes. Wisconsin runs Wisconsin Deer Donation Program, where hunters can donate a deer and the venison goes to food pantries. Take the deer to a participating processor and tell them it is a donation. Rules and cut-off dates vary, so read the program page first.