Hunters donated nearly 14-thousand pounds of venison to food shelves and feeding programs last year in the state of Minnesota, a jump of more than 50 percent from 2024. Jennifer Stephes with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said not everyone has the ability to hunt.

Last year’s donations were the highest total in a decade and well above the 8,900 pounds donated the previous year. The venison program which was established in 2007, reimburses licensed processors and requires strict food safety standards.