From the Article:
In 2022, Wisconsin hunters killed 340,282 deer. Of those, 1,243 — fewer than 1% — were donated to local meat processors that agreed to prepare venison for donation to food pantries.
After reaching a peak in 2006 with nearly 12,000 donations, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Deer Donation Program has been shrinking since it was established in 2000.
There are just over 50 meat processors statewide participating in the program, meaning some hunters looking to donate might need to cross county lines to find a shop or a drop-off site. Meat processors must be licensed with the state to participate.
"That's definitely a problem we hear about: hunters not having a processor locally that they're able to donate (to), and a lot of them, if it's too far, it might just not be worth it,” said Grace Nugent, a wildlife biologist and the deer donation program administrator.
Hunters might also need to get the carcass tested for chronic wasting disease before donating it, adding another step in the process.
Also relevant to the program's overall health are data showing Wisconsin is seeing a general decline in hunters, meaning there are fewer people who might be willing to donate animals that would otherwise not fit in their freezers.
Still, the deer donation program has been successful in gathering 98,324 deer for donation between 2000 and 2022. That amounts to nearly 4 million pounds of donated venison, according to the DNR.
Jasen Elcombe is a captain with the Salvation Army in Superior. Venison donations provide meat to the local food pantry that often receives donated nonperishables but sometimes has to purchase meat to stock its shelves.
About 60 families use the resource in Douglas County each week, he said.
“When we have the venison donated, that’s a whole lot of meat that we can give to people,” Elcombe said. “I think around here — Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan — everyone just loves venison.”
I'd just as soon have people donating money to buy other kinds of meat for food pantries or actually buying such meat and donating it. I hope there ARE less deer hunters out there, that society is finally turning away from this nasty filthy love of killing animals to satiate blood lust and a need to watch animals suffer and die horribly. (PS yes I'm a carnivore and yes I'm aware of how pigs, cows, and sheep are slaughtered and there's a huge difference between killing for blood lust cruelty and killing at processing plants to supply food pantries and stores).
You just let someone else be cruel for you, you are still killing an animal to let that meat pass your lips, that animal is still suffering through the factory farming system from birth to death, a near constant torture.
Look how high and mighty you are over people who have chosen to harvest their own meat. You only think you're better because you let someone else torture your food animals for you, you let mercenaries do your killing, it's still killing.
But sure, the dude 1 shooting a deer through the heart that's lives it's entire life in the wild, that's the problem. You fucking hypocrite.
Exactly! Thanks for getting it. Like I said I'm fully aware of the animals that suffer in meat-producing plants and I'm not going to stop consuming meat, especially because it feels like heaven to eat meat right off the bone (chicken wings, ribs, etc).
If I'm high and mighty (and I damn well am) it's because other people are vermin and ride with their bellies very low to the ground. If I'm a fucking hypocrite, that still makes me higher up on the scale of human evolution than you are.
LMAO, amazing deflection. The difference between humane harvest of game animals and the American factory farming meat system is ethics.
Did you know it's illegal to take pictures in meat processing facilities for the purpose of whistleblowing, or showing them up the public? That because of how horrible the system is.
You feel superior from a point of ignorance, which is actually funny! You can feel the dirt on your belly as you slide, and your feefees are telling you that you're walking upright. Oh man do I love talking to actual head in the clouds people 😁.
Good lord, do you really think hunters enjoy watching animals suffer? That's like suggesting people only like watching American football to see people get injured.
Yes I do, Virginia. I once asked my neighbor why he hunted, as soon as his wife left the room he said, "I like watching the blood spurt out, I like watching an animal suffer." Maybe he was the only really truthful human I've ever actually encountered.
And if you think people don't watch football or racing to see people get injured, you're way out there.
What a dumb take
I am vegan. I also find hunted meat to be drastically less cruel and harmful to animals and the environment than our meat agriculture system. Your comment reeks of unexamined privilege.
Too fucking bad, huh! I don't give two shits about what you "find to be less cruel." You have the IQ of a goddamn billiard ball. And you know just where you can shove your goddamn opinions for all I care about them.
Meh. I don't hunt, but we've killed off most of the predators that keep deer populations in check. They can boom real fast if left unchecked, and then you get to play frogger with them on highways and interstates.
What the fuck? Hunting if anything is the ethical choice. Also, we need to eat those fuckers or they'll take over.
That's absolute bullshit. Hunting is always by it's definition an UNethical choice made by low grade morons. So I'm not surprised it's the way you look at things, but it's absolutely incorrect. And if its between them taking over or people like you, I'll take them any day of the week.