NWTF Announces Wild Game Recipe Contest: Calling All Hunters, Chefs and Wild-Food Enthusiasts

“For many of us, hunting for food and sharing it with family and friends is an enjoyable part of the hunt,” NWTF Communications Director Pete Muller said. “Our 2025 Wild Game Recipe Contest is a way to bring together hunters to share stories of time in the field and how food unites us all. This is a great opportunity to clean out your freezer for the upcoming season and showcase your recipes. You never know; sharing your recipe could be the reason someone picks up hunting for the first time!” 

To be eligible, submitted recipes must include a legally harvested wild game ingredient (deer, turkey, grouse, dove, etc.). Wild-caught fish and seafood are eligible as the featured wild game ingredient, but they must have been legally harvested by the contestant and not bought. 

Submitted recipes must be the unique work of the contestant; however, family recipes are also welcome.

By submitting a recipe, contestants grant the NWTF the ability to use, reproduce and publish the recipe, backstory and any accompanying materials (e.g., photos, copy, name) across NWTF communication platforms, including but not limited to websites, newsletters and social media. The NWTF will provide authorship credit for the recipe. 

A panel of wild-game aficionados will initially judge recipes based on the use of wild game as the featured ingredient in the dish, creativity, background story and photos.  

The top recipes will be recreated and judged on how well the instructions produce a finished product and, of course, taste!  

Recipes, background stories, photos and contestants' names should be sent to recipe@nwtf.net, with the name of the recipe as the subject. Submitted recipes should be accompanied with at least one photo of the prepared dish, step-by-step instructions and a backstory of the recipe. Photo of the hunt is optional. The deadline to submit recipes is Sept. 20, 2025. 

Over $3,500 in prizes will be awarded, thanks to Grilla Grills and MEAT! Your Maker.

Prizes will be awarded to one Grand Prize winner and 2^nd – 5^th places: 

Grand Prize Winner  

• Grilla Chimp 2.0 Tailgate Grill   
• MEAT! 1 HP Grinder #22   
• MEAT! Kitchen Knife Set  
• Grilla Power Station   

2nd Place Winner  

• MEAT! 5-lb. Vertical Sausage Stuffer   
• MEAT! Butcher Knife Set   
• MEAT! 12” External Vacuum Sealer   
• MEAT! 500-Watt Grinder #12   
• MEAT! Vacuum Sealer Bag Roll – 2 Pack 11”   
• MEAT! Hat and Shirt  

 3rd Place Winner 

• MEAT!  Sous Vide 4  
• MEAT! 6” Straight Boning Knife   
• MEAT! Butcher Cleaver   
• Grilla BBQ Tool Set   
• Grilla Cutting Board 

4^th and 5^th Place Winners  

• Grilla BBQ Tool Set   
• Grilla Meat Shredding Claws    
• Grilla All-Purpose Rub   
• Grilla Cutting Board   

For questions about the NWTF’s 2025 Wild Game Recipe Contest, contact recipe@nwtf.net.  

Join as an NWTF member to celebrate all things Healthy Habitats. Healthy Harvests.  

About the National Wild Turkey Federation      

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.