Hunting is not just an outdoor recreational activity. It is an important and measurable contributor to feeding Americans and bolstering the U.S. economy. 

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 in 2024 would cost $3.21 billion. 

“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 in 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. 

Findings of interest: 

• There are 16.2 million licensed hunters in the United States 

• Global meat production in 2023 reached 371 million tons globally—a fivefold increase since only 1961 

• 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 

• Study data does not include harvests by Indigenous Peoples whose hunting practices are managed by Tribal governments 

• 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 

“Our findings highlight the food security, health and environmental benefits of restoring and managing habitats to support wild meat harvests,” said researchers. “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.”  

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. 

About Hunt 2 Conserve  

Hunt 2 Conserve is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Its mission is to advance a legacy of hunting and conservation by educating, activating and developing stewards and defenders of these fundamentally American ideals. For more information, go to hunt2conserve.org.