Join us for our annual Roadkill Camp Workshop!
Save your dates for November 6th-8th.
Our Mission
Our mission at Roadkill Camp is to teach people how to utilize and honor deer hit by cars. We are here to challenge the negative stereotypes that surround harvesting roadkill, as well as to teach people valuable hands-on skills. Have you ever stumbled across the scene of a deer-car crash and not known where to start? Our guided roadkill drives will allow you to identify salvagable deer with confidence. We also offer a variety of hands-on classes that include butchery, hide tanning, sinew harvesting, and more! Not only will you build community, but by the time you leave camp, you will have the skills to utilize every part of the deer. Here at roadkill camp, we believe deer hit by cars should be treated as gifts of the land rather than roadside carnage.
Interested in Volunteering or Teaching?
Are you a passionate roadkill harvester? Or perhaps you have a deer-related skill you would like to share? Roadkill Camp is looking for 8 volunteers, as well as instructors! We want butchers, hide tanners, and crafters! It is asked that any volunteers must be willing to lead roadkill drives, as well as help with CWD sampling. Please fill out the google form below if you have any interest! If you have been choosen, you will receive an email. Volunteers receive a large discount, and instructors get in for FREE! This form will be open until July 1st.
Classes offered
Guided Roadkill Drives
At roadkill camp, we offer guided roadkill drives. You will be placed with a driver, and assigned a route in Allegan County. You will learn how to identify salvagable deer, road safety, and how to fill out a roadkill permit.
Butchery
If a driver returns with a deer, a butchering demonstration will follow. We will discuss how to spot internal injuries, ruptured organs, and damaged meat. Particpants will gain hands-on experience skinning, deboning, and preserving deer meat.
Hide Tanning
The art of hide tanning goes back thousands of years. Learn the traditional ways of tanning, scraping, and stretching. We will transform deerskins into beautiful works of art that will last many years to come!
Miscellaneous Classes
Hock Harvesting
Here at Roadkill Camp, we believe in using as much of the deer as possible. Our hock harvesting class will teach you how to properly skin a deer leg, as well as preserve the hocks for crafting. Deer hocks are excellent for making bags, bottle holders, and belt pouches!
Sinew Harvesting
Learn how to make natural cordage simply by harvesting and drying tendons from the deer’s leg!
Other applicable classes….
Roadkill Camp is currently looking for instructors! Do you have any roadkill-related skills or crafts that you want to share? Please fill out our Instructor/Volunteer form!
Local Laws regarding deer parts and Roadkill Collection:
“The Michigan Department of Natural Resources requires a person to obtain a free salvage permit to possess wildlife killed in vehicular collisions.”
“The driver of the vehicle has first choice to take possession of the game. If the driver leaves it, another individual may take it for salvage. This permit does not apply to an individual who uses a motor vehicle to kill or injure game intentionally.”
”To apply for a salvage permit, please complete this online application form. If you leave the form before completing the entire form, your answers will not be saved. You will still be able to go back to the form and start over, but your previous responses will be lost. Before beginning the application, you need to know the date and location where the salvaged animal was collected. To begin the application process, select the "Next page" button at the bottom of this page. This information is required under Part 435, 1994 PA 451, Michigan Compiled Laws 324.43539 and Section 4.5 of the Wildlife Conservation Order.”
Where to access the Roadkill Salvage permit: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/a5f0a6fe21d7466bb7a519bb4fc13c1f
Law Regarding the Posession of Deer Parts in Michigan:
“You may NOT possess the carcass, or parts thereof, of a roadkill deer outside of the county where the deer was killed by collision with a motor vehicle except for deboned meat, quarters or other parts of the cervid that do not have any part of the spinal column or head attached, antler, antlers attached to the skull or skull cap cleaned of all brain and muscle tissue, hides, upper canine teeth, or a finished taxidermist mount. This is part of the DNR’s efforts to respond to and manage chronic wasting disease in the state.”
Our Chronic Wasting Disease Policy
On November 13th, 2025, the first case of Chronic Wasting Disease was reported in a wild doe in Allegan County. After receiving this terrible news, it was decided that Roadkill Camp 2026 will impose new guidelines regarding Chronic Wasting Disease. These guidelines will include testing every deer we pick up, having drivers stay within county lines, and cleaning our equipment thoroughly. While there is no evidence of the disease jumping the species barrier to humans, we do not want to risk any cross-species transmission . We are also deer lovers, and pride ourselves in keeping our deer population happy and healthy. The goal is not to fear-monger, but rather to inform our participants on how to be good stewards to our local deer herd. Please read and review the guidelines below.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Roadkill Camp is hosted on a farm near Plainwell Michigan. Due to being private property, we only disclose the address through email prior to camp.
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If you plan on camping, be prepared for rain, snow, and anything inbetween. Pack enough food to get through 2-3 days. Bringing a cooler is recomended for people who plan taking home meat or other deer parts. We will send out supply lists prior to camp.
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There will be two portajohns, hose water, electric outlets, a heated barn, and a communal campfire.
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Check in begins at 2:00pm and runs until 6:00pm on November 6th. After everyone has set up camp, we will go over safety and what to expect on the following days.
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Guests are required to bring their own food. However, we do plan on hosting a venison dinner on the Saturday night.
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All roadkill deer MUST have salvage tags under Michigan Law. A salvage tag is written proof that a deer was obtained legally, and allows the animal to be submitted for CWD testing. Salvage tags can be filled out online; I have included the link in the law section above.
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For every CWD test we send out, we will email results to every particpant. If a deer is to test positive, we recommend that anyone with meat from that animal disposes of it accordingly. All bags will be labeled in order to identify each deer.
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All driving parties will be briefed on how to identify a fresh deer before setting off. We have a rule that a deer can be refused at any time by the lead butcher. This applies to deer that appear unhealthy, are extremely damaged, or are past prime. If we do receive one of these deer, the driving party is required to help dispose of the animal.
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Any driving parties that return with a deer get first dibs on the meat. Sought after parts of the deer such as the backstraps and antlers, will be decided through raffle. Any leftover meat and miscellaneous parts will be open to the community.
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We are offering a roadkill class scholarship! If you are interested, please visit the ticket section and apply. The winner will be announced in September.
