Did you receive venison at your local food pantry?

If you can cook with beef, you can cook with venison! While cooking with venison is very similar to cooking with beef, there are a few key differences. Venison is much leaner and can dry out quicker if overcooked. Certain cuts can also benefit from marinating or brining, or cooking with added fats. Don’t be intimidated by it though. We’ve gathered some great beginner recipes here to get you started:

• Venison Burritos
• Venison Meatloaf- comfort food!
• Venison Meatballs
• Hunters’ Venison Pie

Are you a hunter looking for ways to help out in your community?

A single donated deer yields 50 pounds of meat, translating to 200 nutritious meals for local families facing food insecurity.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is bringing New York State hunters together with organizations that match processors and food pantries. This collaborative network simultaneously advances wildlife management goals and addresses food insecurity across communities statewide.

If you’re in Western and Central New York, you can visit the Venison Donation Coalition to contact processors who can share your hunting success with local food pantries. 

The Feeding New York State Venison Donation Program connects donated venison to food banks. 

For more information on donating venison, visit the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.