My name is Gabrielle Sorgenfrei. I am a self-proclaimed scavenger, forager, and writer from Southwest Michigan. For the past five winters, I have harvested and worked with roadkill deer. I am passionate about teaching others to honor these animals as well as utilizing them.

My first experience harvesting roadkill happened when a car in front of me struck a young buck. Not wanting the beautiful deer to go to waste, I took him home. This was my first time butchering an entire deer on my own, and I was shocked at how many meals he gave me. Although the circumstances were unfortunate for this deer, I was and still am very thankful for him.

This young buck has sent me on a roadkill harvesting journey. Over the years, I have salvaged many roadkill deer. I learned how to differentiate hour old from day old kills, as well as spotting signs of spoilage. I have used every part of the deer, from the organs to the hide! I view harvesting roadkill as honoring a majestic animal that would’ve otherwise gone to waste.

As I become more experienced in harvesting roadkill, people began to take notice. My friends requested me to take them on roadkill drives. After we successfully butchered several roadkill deer, word of mouth spread quickly. A friend suggested that I write a zine to teach others. All three hundred copies sold out quickly, and it became clear that harvesting roadkill was a sought after skill.

As of now, my current passion is teaching people to honor deer hit by cars. After hosting Roadkill Camp 2025, I would like to make roadkill harvesting a more accessible skill. I am currently offering two classes: An Introduction to Roadkill Harvest, and a hands-on Roadkill Harvesting weekend. If you are interested in learning how to craft and consume roadkill deer, please stay tuned! I will have all of my 2026 classes posted on my events page in February. Happy salvaging to all!