Contact: Sarah Abel
Phone: 202-225-5506
Sarah.Abel@mail.house.gov


La Crosse, WI—
With Wisconsin’s annual deer gun hunt kicking off over the weekend Rep. Ron Kindcosponsored the Wild Game Donation Act. This bipartisan legislation would allow hunters to take a tax deduction for the cost of processing their venison when the final product is donated. The legislation will also provide a tax benefit to processors who participate in venison donation programs by making all processing income they receive from charities tax-exempt.

 “Every year hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites head outside to take part in one of Wisconsin’s greatest traditions—hunting,” said Rep. Ron Kind. “This outdoor tradition benefits so many communities, from boosting local economies to supporting the conservation of Wisconsin’s habitats to helping tackle food insecurity. Many hunters already donate to local food banks and help fill those shelves and this is just a simple way to say thank you and encourage others to do the same.”

Hunting in Wisconsin brings in $2.5 billion to the state’s economy each year—88% of that revenue comes from the nine-day gun hunt.

For the last twenty years, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has encouraged hunters to donate venison to a local food bank. As a result, hunters have donated over 3.7 million pounds of venison since 2000. Meanwhile, 600,000 Wisconsinites seek assistance from a food bank each year.

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