Hunting to Make a Difference

November is Wild Game Meat Donation Month – Here’s How and Why to Get Involved

by Richard Baimbridge

With inflation and the economy making it hard for a lot of everyday Americans to put enough food on the table, November’s Wild Game Meat Donation initiative, sponsored by the NRA and Safari Club International, couldn’t come at a better time. This is a chance for hunters to give back during a time of crisis for many American (and particularly rural) families, with estimates of child hunger in states like Wyoming and Montana as high as 1 in 6 kids.

At the same time, it’s also an opportunity for the hunting community to address the negative shift in attitudes towards hunting and its legality. According to a recent survey published by MeatEater, the number of people who approve of hunting overall is down by 4% since 2021, while those who support its legality regardless of their own feelings towards hunting has fallen by 7% since 2011.

This can have real-world consequences for hunters, especially for things that are decided at the local level, like urban archery. On the state level, the legality of hunting things like wild cats is also under threat with a proposal on the ballot in Colorado this November. Thus, the goal of WGMD isn’t just to get hunters to donate a portion of their meat to food banks, but to also invite non-hunters to share your table and promote an open dialogue.  

Peter Churchbourne, managing director of the NRA Hunting Division says, “New to this year’s celebration, we also request that all hunters share their wild game meat with a non-hunter. Make a point to cook a meal and tell your story to a non-hunter in the 24/25 season. Our research proved that non-hunters will support hunting activities when they know a hunter. We also learned that when non-hunters understand that we consume our wild game meat, they approve of hunting by an astounding 98 percent.” 

‘Food Insecurity’ Affects Rural Areas and Veteran Families

While overall food prices rose at an alarming rate of over 10% (levels not seen since the 1970s), meat and eggs have seen some of the biggest increases, causing many families to cut back on protein. Eggs have seen a whopping 30% average increase since 2022, while beef and poultry aren’t far behind at 15%. This is compounded by rising unemployment and housing costs – and yet, many of those affected don’t qualify for food relief programs like SNAP.  

Rural families have been hit worst, with hunger relief organization Feeding America saying that 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience food insecurity annually – most of them in rural areas. Rural counties represent 87% of counties with food insecurity rates in the top 10%. The USDA defines “food insecurity” as people who don't have enough to eat and don't know where their next meal will come from.

A 2023 survey by the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) also found that 1 in 5 military veteran families had experienced food insecurity or visited a food bank.  

 WGMD is supported by organizations like the NRA and Safari Club International, which work through programs like Hunters for the Hungry and Sportsmen Against Hunger to channel wild meat donations to food banks and soup kitchens across the U.S. Venison and other game meats provide a much-needed source of healthy protein, especially in communities where access to fresh meat is limited.

According to a study by the NRA, hunters share about 20% of the meat they harvest with friends, food banks, churches and other hunger-relief organizations – accounting for 119 million pounds of meat per year.

How to Get Involved

Each state has its own regulations and requirements for donating meat, including temperature control, field dressing, tag information and hunter identification. The NRA and Hunters for the Hungry have an interactive map with information, including local contact details for the entire US.

You can also contact local churches, charities and food banks directly to find out their needs, drop off sites and regulations. But perhaps best of all is to open a spot at your table, or donate directly in person to a family in need. A single positive interaction can change a person’s perspective and make a difference on a subject that’s important to all of us.

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