Imagine if Victoria’s wild game harvest – currently underused and often wasted – could be transformed into thousands of healthy meals for vulnerable families. That’s the power and promise of a “Hunters for the Hungry” program – a simple, practical idea with big social, environmental and political upside.
The concept is already working around the world, including just across the ditch. In New Zealand, charitable game meat programs are feeding communities with clean, sustainable venison from wild deer. In 2023 alone, over 7 tonnes of venison were donated to food charities. That’s real meat on real plates – not political fluff, action with impact.
Why Victoria?
Victoria is home to a robust population of wild deer, and recreational hunters – supported by ethical, safety-focused groups like SSAA Victoria – are already on the frontlines of game management. Every year, hundreds of thousands of animals are ethically harvested by recreational hunters. But, thousands more are shot to waste in government funded culling programs. That’s a missed opportunity in a state where food insecurity affects 1 in 6 households.
SSAA Victoria has been pushing for a homegrown version of “Hunters for the Hungry,” and support is growing. In 2023 and 2024, the Association hosted a Game Meat BBQ in the Victorian Parliament, serving ethically harvested venison to MPs and decision-makers. It wasn’t just a lunch – it was a statement: we have the people and the community will to make this happen. All we need is the political green light.
The Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, Purpose
This isn’t just about food. It’s about triple-bottom-line benefits:
- Social: Nutritious game meat goes to food banks and charities. Think meals for shelters, soup kitchens, and struggling families.
- Environmental: Culled deer, instead of being left to rot and feed wild dogs, would be removed from the environment.
- Economic: A coordinated program supports regional jobs in meat processing, logistics, and compliance, while also showcasing hunting as a responsible, community-oriented activity.
What’s the Hold-Up?
Despite bipartisan interest, Victoria still lacks the legal and regulatory framework to allow hunter-donated game meat into the food system and the government support for a modest pilot program to prove the concept. Bureaucratic red tape, outdated game meat rules, and cultural squeamishness about hunting have kept the idea on ice.
But that’s changing. The success in New Zealand shows the model works – and that it can be adapted safely. SSAA Victoria’s advocacy has laid the groundwork. Now it’s up to lawmakers to catch up with the community.
A Program with Momentum
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party MP Jeff Bourman has already taken the idea to Parliament, tabling a motion in support of a Hunters for the Hungry program in Victoria. The message is clear: we can do so much better with Victoria’s wild game resource than simply spending taxpayer dollars to have it shot to waste.
The public gets it. So do many in politics. All that’s needed now is a push from decision-makers to cut through red tape and deliver something that’s already proven, already supported, and urgently needed.
Time to Act
Victoria prides itself on innovation, sustainability, and fairness. “Hunters for the Hungry” ticks all three boxes. It doesn’t require massive government spending. It doesn’t need new technology. It just needs common sense and political will.
Let’s not waste another winter – or another tonne of meat. Let’s follow the lead of New Zealand, listen to our own hunters, and make “Hunters for the Hungry” a reality in Victoria.