HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania hunters set a new record for donated venison during the 2025-26 hunting season, turning thousands of harvested deer into nearly 1.2 million servings of protein for people facing food insecurity across the Commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced Monday that hunters donated 294,844 pounds of venison from 8,382 deer through Hunters Sharing the Harvest. The agency said the milestone makes Pennsylvania the nation’s leading state for venison donations.
The record represents another substantial increase for the program. During the 2024-25 season, hunters donated 283,789 pounds from 7,855 deer, meaning donations climbed by more than 11,000 pounds this past season.
Hunters Turn Deer Harvest Into Nearly 1.2 Million Meals
Hunters Sharing the Harvest connects hunters with participating processors and charitable food organizations, allowing harvested deer to become a source of lean protein for Pennsylvania families.
The program has operated since 1991, channeling donated venison through approved processors to food banks, food pantries and other charitable organizations around the state.
- Pennsylvania hunters donated a record 294,844 pounds of venison during the 2025-26 season.
- The donations came from 8,382 deer and represented nearly 1.2 million servings of protein.
- The previous season’s record was 283,789 pounds from 7,855 deer.
The Game Commission credited hunters, processors, volunteers, donors and sponsors with pushing the program to its latest milestone.
The agency also pointed to partnerships among the Game Commission, Hunters Sharing the Harvest and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture as an important part of getting donated meat from hunters to communities that need it.
How much venison did Pennsylvania hunters donate?
Hunters donated 294,844 pounds during the 2025-26 hunting season, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The meat came from 8,382 deer.
Record Comes During a Bigger Pennsylvania Deer Harvest
The donation record came during a season in which Pennsylvania’s overall deer harvest also increased.
The Game Commission previously estimated hunters harvested approximately 505,600 deer during the 2025-26 seasons, about 6% more than the estimated 476,880 taken the previous year.
Of that statewide harvest, approximately 185,310 deer were antlered and 320,290 were antlerless.
That means the 8,382 deer donated through Hunters Sharing the Harvest represented only a portion of Pennsylvania’s overall deer harvest, but generated hundreds of thousands of pounds of meat for charitable distribution.
The program provides hunters with a way to donate venison at no charge through participating processors.
Where does the donated venison go?
Processed meat is distributed through Pennsylvania’s charitable food network, including food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens and community assistance organizations serving people who need help putting food on the table.
Hunting Program Connects Wildlife Management With Food Security
The record also illustrates how Pennsylvania officials are increasingly connecting deer management with the state’s food assistance network.
Earlier this year, the Game Commission described Hunters Sharing the Harvest as part of a broader partnership involving hunters, farmers and state agencies. Harvesting deer can help landowners dealing with crop damage while simultaneously generating meat that can be donated to families.
The Game Commission provided $250,000 to Hunters Sharing the Harvest during fiscal year 2025-26, including additional funding intended to support processing needs and organizational capacity.
Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 budget also included $500,000 for the program through the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Food Assistance.
The Game Commission said the latest record reflects the generosity of people throughout the hunting community and the organizations that move the meat from the field to families.
“Together, we’re proving that hunting is about more than the harvest — it’s about stewardship and community,” the Game Commission said in announcing the new numbers.
Can Pennsylvania hunters donate deer to Hunters Sharing the Harvest?
Yes. Hunters Sharing the Harvest works with a statewide network of participating processors to accept donated venison and distribute the processed meat through charitable food organizations.
Sources: Pennsylvania Game Commission; Hunters Sharing the Harvest program; Pennsylvania Game Commission deer harvest data
