Michigan hunters are feeding their communities by donating thousands of pounds of meat to local food banks

These food drives didn’t just help feed local Michiganders—they also helped control the state’s deer population.

As Michigan continues to experience shorter and milder winters and fewer ‘Ganders are heading into deer blinds, officials report that our state’s deer population is over two million.

The overpopulation is taking a toll on our state’s environment, especially for farmers and their crops. It also contributed to the 58,000 vehicle-deer crashes across Michigan in 2023. 

Thankfully, new deer hunting regulations designed to address the overpopulation of deer in the Lower Peninsula, including extending antlerless deer firearm hunting, were approved for the 2024 hunting season—several Michigan communities are already feeling the effects. 

In Kalamazoo County, hunters gathered in the village of Climax to participate in the area’s first-ever “Doe Derby.” More than 70 freshly processed deer—about 2,745 pounds of meat—were donated to the Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes food program.

Hunters in Jackson are also doing their part. Venison was donated to the Immanuel Lutheran Church’s food bank for community distribution after 80 deer were harvested at the Ella Sharp Park and Golf Course. 

How can I help?

If you’re a hunter and want to help make an impact in your community, Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger (MSAH) is a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization, that has worked with hunters from across the state to help supply venison to feed hungry Michiganders for over twenty years. 

Since its inception in 1991, MSAH has donated over 1.2 million pounds of ground venison across the state. For more information about their upcoming donation drives, visit their events page or give them a follow on social media.