Hunting is not just a great American pastime. It is also an important and measurable contributor to feeding Americans as well as bolstering the U.S. economy in a multitude of ways.
A new study highlighting the economic value of wild meat shows regulated big game hunting in the United States generated 235,760 tons or 519,761,829 pounds of protein per year. Based on a 6-ounce serving size, that equates to 1.39 billion meals. Researchers estimated that replacing wild, hunter-acquired meat with the equivalent of domestic meat would cost $3.21 billion (based on 2024 numbers used in the study). This assessment does not take into account the additional economic drivers of hunting, guiding, outfitting and state license sales which all contribute to the GDP, supporting families and in turn putting food on the table.
“This wild meat harvest may positively contribute to conserving biodiversity by reducing dependence on industrial agricultural systems and through direct financial support for conservation efforts provided by the harvesting community,” according to the study.
Researchers drew on state harvest data from hunting seasons spanning from 2014 to 2019. Their findings demonstrate compelling evidence for understanding wild harvest is not only as a management or cultural issue, but also a measurable form of food provision.
From the published study, these were findings of particular interest:
If wild meat were replaced with an equivalent mass of domestic meat products, it is estimated that 60,860 tons of chicken, 32,760 tons of cold cuts and cured meats (excluding bacon), 273,000 tons of beef (excluding ground) and 58,700 tons of other products would need to be bought each year. Wild meat from big game represents 1.44 percent of all red meat (beef, veal, pork and lamb) available for consumption in America. Hunters harvested at least 23 big game species for consumption in the U.S. The top seven most harvested big game species were (in order) white-tailed deer, feral hogs, elk, mule deer, moose, pronghorn antelope and black bear. Texas hunters obtained the most wild meat followed by Alabama, Mississippi and Michigan. Wyoming and Montana hunters generated the most wild meat per capita. Wild meat is higher in protein and lower in calories than the domestic meat product diet of Americans.
“Our findings highlight the food security, health and environmental benefits of restoring and managing habitats to support wild meat harvests,” researchers wrote. “We argue that recreational hunting should be more rigorously considered in research and policy frameworks as an example of how regulated animal harvest can sustainably generate wild food while having positive economic and conservation outcomes.”
Historically, regulated hunting led to the creation of policies, laws and regulations, including the prohibition of the sale of wild meat and other products, that ultimately restored the abundance of many species
The Wild Harvest Initiative is meant to be the first complete assessment highlighting the economic, social and ecological significance of hunting and fishing. It is supported by Conservation Visions Inc.