Hunters Against Hunger

In conjunction with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, hunters who legally harvest big game during the hunting season can donate all or part of their meat to feed hungry Montanans. To help with processing charges, anyone purchasing a Montana hunting license has the opportunity to make an on-the-spot donation to Hunters Against Hunger.

We have never in my time here had this much game.  Truly a huge gift.
– Jill Holder, Operations Manager at Gallatin Valley Food Bank

A hunter who applies for or purchases a deer, antelope, elk, moose, or wild buffalo license may donate $1 or more in addition to the price of each license.  These contributions help pay for processing and distribution of the donated game to feeding programs statewide.

For Hunters

There is no cost or processing fees for donated meat. Legally harvested big game animals can be donated (deer, elk, antelope, moose and wild bison) to any participating processor in Montana (see Authorized Processors below).  Roadkill will not be accepted.  Simply deliver the big game to the nearest participating meat processor and let them know you wish to donate all or part of the animal.  The ground venison will then be distributed to Montanans in need through Montana Food Bank Network’s partner agencies.

If a hunter desires to retain part of the meat, the meat processor will take a photocopy of the carcass tag to remain with the donated meat. The original license will stay with the hunter’s meat and/or trophy.

For Processors

Participation by local meat processors and hunters is the key to success to be able to help provide quality, local protein that is a vital nutrition in a healthy diet.

2018-2019 Participating Processors List

Beaverhead Meats – Dillon, MT 
Donations received by Beaverhead Community Food Pantry

Bridger Mountain Meats – Belgrade, MT
Donations received by Gallatin Valley Food Bank

Chladek Meats – Deer Lodge, MT
Donations received by Deer Lodge Food Pantry

Clark Fork Custom Meats – Plains, MT
Donations received by Plains Community Food Bank

Custom Cuts – Lewistown, MT
Donations received by Central Montana Community Cupboard

Deemo’s Meats – Ennis, MT
Donations received by West Yellowstone Food Bank

Game On The Go – Great Falls, MT
Donations received by Salvation Army Great Falls and St. Vincent DePaul

Garrison Custom Processing – Garrison, MT
Donations received by Granite County Food Pantry

H&H Meats – Missoula, MT
Donations received by Missoula Food Bank and Community Center

Hamilton Pack – Hamilton, MT
Donations received by Haven House and Pantry Partners

Hart’s Custom Cutting – Choteau, MT
Donations received by Teton County Food Bank

Hi Line Meats – Glasgow, MT
Donations received by Valley County Emergency Food Bank and Valley County Council on Aging

House of Meats – Black Eagle, MT
Donations received by Chouteau County Food Bank

Judith Mountain Meats – Lewistown, MT
Donations received by Central Montana Community Cupboard

L and S Meats – Dell, MT
Donations received by Beaverhead Community Food Pantry

LAM Custom Meats – St. Ignatius, MT
Donations received by St. Ignatius Senior Center and Mission Valley Food Pantry

Lolo Locker – Lolo, MT
Donations received by Missoula Food Bank and Community Center

Matt’s Butcher Shop & Deli – Livingston, MT
Donations received by Livingston Food Resource Center

Pat’s Wild Game – Trout Creek, MT
Donations received by Community Services Fellowship and Community Harvest Food Bank

Pierce Meat Cutting – White Sulphur Springs, MT
Donations received by Meagher County Food Bank

Pioneer Meats – Big Timber, MT
Donations received by Big Timber Community Food Bank and Winds of Change Youth Ranch

Rawhide Meats – White Sulphur Springs, MT
Donations received by Meagher County Food Bank

Seeley Lake Meats – Seeley Lake, MT
Donations received by Seeley-Swan Community Food Bank

T & G Processing – Circle, MT
Donations received by McCone Food Bank And Garfield Food Bank

Timberland Taxidermy – Great Falls, MT
Donations received by Salvation Army Great Falls and St. Vincent DePaul

Tizer Meats – Helena, MT
Donations received by Helena Food Share

Treasure Trail Meat Processing – Glasgow, MT
Donations received by Valley County Emergency Food Bank and Valley County Council on Aging

Triple T Specialty Meats – Glendive, MT
Donations received by Dawson County Food Bank

Western Meat & Sausage Block – Butte, MT
Donations received by Butte Emergency Food Bank

Yellowstone Meat Processing – Bozeman, MT
Donations received by Gallatin Valley Food Bank

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does Hunters Against Hunger work with FWP hunts?
  • Any game killed under a kill tag will not be processed with funds from the Hunters Against Hunger fund unless it has been preauthorized by Montana Food Bank Network. This must be prior to dropping the game at a meat processor used by the Montana Food Bank Network.
  • Per FWP Bureau Chief, The intent of the legislation was to have hunters be able to donate game animals and donate funds at the time of license purchases to pay for processing the donated game. FWP hunts and landowner kill permits are eligible for HAH funds, but first priority should be given to hunters.

• How quickly will payment be submitted?
  • If all paperwork is in order and correctly completed, MFBN will submit payment to processors within 7 days of receipt of invoice. This paperwork includes:
    • Processor’s W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification)
    • Hunters Against Hunger MOU
    • Invoice including all of the following:
      • Date within the last 30 days
      • “Bill to Montana Food Bank Network”
      • Poundage
      • Dollar amount
      • Signature of local food pantry confirming receipt of game meat
    • Carcass tags- copies or scanned are acceptable as long as ALS number is legible.

• What if we charge processing on a per-animal basis?
  • MFBN is required to track processing quantities on a per-pound basis and has structured the reimbursement guidelines accordingly, including a maximum allowable per-pound fee. In order to fulfill our obligations we request and require billed poundage in order to provide reimbursement payments. Payment on invoices that do not include poundage will be delayed until all necessary information is collected.

• Why do you need the carcass tags? Aren’t those supposed to stay with the meat?
  • Yes, by Montana law the tags are required to stay with the meat for inspection by FWP, until it reaches the final consumer. However, part of MFBN’s arrangement with FWP is a departure from this practice since additional entities are involved in the distribution of the game meat. As such, the tags (or copies) must be included with invoices for proper documentation.
  • If the hunter wishes to retain a portion of the meat, a copy of the carcass tag must be made to be kept by the processor and the original tag will accompany the hunter and the meat retained by the hunter.
  • The carcass tag, or a copy in cases where a part of the meat was retained by the hunter, and a list of individuals who donated game animals containing the name, current address, ALS#, and game animal(s) donated must be retained by the meat processor and open to inspection by FWP for a period of five (5) years.

• What if your local food pantry is small or can’t store all of the donated game meat? Should we turn donations away?
  • Please don’t! MFBN serves the entire state and can always find a good home for excess game meat once the local area has been stocked (provided that funding remains). We will work with both the processor and the agency to work out a plan to make the most of all game animals donated to Hunters Against Hunger.

• What happens if I exceed my preapproved allocation?
  • Preapproved allocations are set to avoid processors needing to contact MFBN for approval on all game processing, hopefully making it easier on you. The goal of the allocations is to equitably share the available processing funds around all regions of the state. If you feel that you are going to reach or exceed your preapproved allocation, please contact MFBN before processing any additional game. We can discuss how much additional funding remains and can be allocated to you

• What is this “Thank you for your donation” half-sheet flyer?
  • To help promote the program, MFBN is following up with some hunters that have donated game animals to Hunters Against Hunger to ask them why they donated. We then share this information on social media and in our statewide marketing campaigns. It is completely voluntary for both hunters and processors, but we encourage you to include a stack of the flyers at your facilities for those that donate to help ensure the future of the program.
• How do I know which food pantries are in my area and can accept donated game meat?
  • Participating processors will be informed of their local food pantries in the same letter in which you are assigned a preapproved processing amount. If you have questions about which food pantry you should donate to, or if multiple pantries exist in your area, please contact MFBN.

For more information contact Eric Luongo, Agency Resource Coordinator.