In a recently published Viewpoint in the journal BioScience, a team led by David S. Mason and Mark E. Bell of Michigan State University suggest that expanding wild-harvested meat donation programs could help address the dual problems of food insecurity and wildlife overabundance. The authors examine the ways in which such programs could provide a sustainable source of healthy protein to those in need while mitigating the ecosystem damage and safety risks posed by excessive numbers of white-tailed deer and other hyperabundant species.
Although such programs have existed for some time, only 3% to 4% of hunters currently participate. Nevertheless, these programs already have a substantial impact, say the authors, who note that "wild-harvested game donations from at least 48 programs across the United States provide about 860 metric tons of meat," representing over 10 million meals, annually.
Using Michigan as a case study, the researchers found that during the 2022–2023 year, venison donations provided over 600,000 meals through the Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger program. However, this represents only "5.7% of the annual amount of venison that could be used by food donation facilities," according to the Food Bank Council of Michigan, leaving substantial room for scaling up such programs.
The authors identify several challenges that presently limit program expansion, including economic constraints, declining hunter participation, limited processing facilities, and a lack of awareness of donation programs. To address these issues, they propose six recommendations, among them the exploration of additional funding models, the development evidence-based best practices, and a streamlined donation processes.
The growth of such programs—and of hunting more generally—could also reduce the safety issues that result from historically high deer populations, say the authors: "White-tailed deer hyperabundance increases the frequency and magnitude of damage to vehicles, crops, and ecosystems." They report that deer–vehicle collisions alone cause "about $10 billion US in damages, 59,000 human injuries, and 440 human deaths" each year in the United States.
Mason, Bell, and colleagues argue that expanded game meat donation programs could also help the United States achieve multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Zero Hunger and Good Health and Well-Being, while protecting biodiversity and supporting sustainable communities. To achieve these ends, the authors propose several possible approaches, including "increasing government culls and voluntary participation in wild-harvested game meat donation programs, implementing more liberalized hunting seasons with increased harvest limits, establishing more formalized food donation programs with stable government or grant-sponsored funding, and exploring regulated commercial harvest."
Journal
BioScience