Wild Game Processing Program
North Valley Food Bank processes wild game during the Fall and Winter hunting seasons.
If you are a hunter, meat processor, or customer, please follow the below guidelines:
- Always call us BEFORE dropping off any donated animals! Contact our Warehouse Coordinator, Katama, at (406) 862-5863 press 2, prior to delivery.
- We can only accept legally and ethically harvested deer, elk, wild bison, moose, and antelope.
- We DO NOT accept roadkill. We also CAN NOT accept bear, mountain lion, livestock (ie. cattle, hogs), wild turkey, duck, fish, feral pig, or any wild game that was not processed in a state-licensed facility.
- Animals must be gutted in a timely manner and held at a safe temperature. If gut-shot, the animal must be cleaned properly. If possible, please skin and quarter the animal prior to delivery.
- Animals processed at the Food Bank are intended for public consumption. We do not require Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing; however, testing is strongly encouraged in areas where CWD is prevalent. See CWD info below.
- When donating an animal to NVFB, you MUST bring a validated carcass tag along with the animal. If tested for CWD, please also bring the CWD testing ID number.
- Animals will be processed at NVFB on-site by our volunteer wild game processing team.
- Through the Hunters Against Hunger program, NVFB is reimbursed $3 per finished pound of processed game meat.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Testing Options
How to have your animal tested for CWD:
Collect samples yourself by filling out the online hunter submission form and mailing the samples to the Wildlife Health Lab in Bozeman.
Bring the animal (or head) to an FWP regional office or local CWD Sampling Station. Check with your regional office for optimal times (regional offices generally accept samples during normal business hours). Sampling locations and hours of operation are posted online.
If you are looking for assistance with sampling your animal outside of the general deer and elk rifle season, please call ahead to your regional office to schedule an appointment.
Kalispell FWP Headquarters
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
490 North Meridian Road, Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: (406) 752-5501
Email: fwprg12@mt.gov
Web: https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/chronic-wasting-disease/management
Volunteer Opportunities
We are seeking experienced volunteers to join our meat processing team. If you are interested in helping us process wild game, please contact Lauren.
Email: whitney@northvalleyfoodbank.org
Phone: 406.862.5863 press 5.
