Hunters Help Fight Hunger through Wyoming’s Food from the Field

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is reporting the state’s hunters are contributing to the fight against food insecurity through the Food from the Field program. Hunters interested in donating their harvested big game animal to help fight hunger in Wyoming can participate in the initiative — a statewide partnership focused on building a sustainable future fighting hunger. 

The program was launched in 2020 by Wyoming’s First Lady Jennie Gordon. Food from the Field was created under the umbrella of the Wyoming Hunger Initiative. The Game and Fish Department is a partner, along with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture and participating meat processors to build a bridge between the Cowboy State’s hunters and organizations focused on ending food insecurity. 

According to the Game and Fish, from 2020 through 2024, Wyoming hunters donated 78,529 pounds of wild game meat. And as a caution, all donated deer and elk undergo appropriate chronic wasting disease testing to ensure safety prior to entering the food bank system. 

The department and its partners have made giving back through the harvest straightforward. Hunters bring their game to a participating meat processor and elect to donate either a few packages or the whole animal. And while optional donations toward processing fees are always appreciated to keep the program growing, they are not required.

“We are grateful to Wyoming’s hunters, whose willingness to share their harvest provides a sustainable solution to hunger in our community” Game and Fish Interim Director Eric Wiltanger said. “Sharing all or part of your harvest, knowing it will directly feed a local family, is a win for everyone.”

For more information on donating all or a portion of your harvest, visit the Food from the Field website by clicking here.