Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen Proclaims November Wild Game Meat Donation Month

Above: Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, right, joined by the NRA’s Karen Mehall Phillips, honored Nebraska's Hunters Helping the Hungry program launched in cooperation with Nebraska Game and Parks on Tuesday as he declared November Nebraska Wild Game Meat Donation Month. Hunters have provided 900,000 protein-rich venison meals to those less fortunate since the program's inception in 2011.

Recognizing Nebraska hunters for their generosity and time-honored tradition of donating wild game meat to those less fortunate through America’s Hunters for the Hungry (HFH) movement, fellow hunter and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed an official proclamation on Nov. 5 declaring November 2024 Nebraska Wild Game Meat Donation Month. The move is in step with the NRA’s celebration of National Wild Game Meat Donation Month (NWGMDM) throughout November, applauding hunters’ common-sense solution to fighting hunger and encouraging us all to donate our surplus venison or make a financial contribution to a local HFH program as we prepare for Thanksgiving and the season of giving.

When the NRA reached out to governors for support in expanding its NWGMDM initiative, it was no surprise that Gov. Pillen was one of the first to step forward after entering office in 2023 pledging to “defend Nebraska’s common-sense, traditional values.” Not only is hunting enshrined in the Nebraska state constitution, but it is an integral part of rural Nebraska communities that are united in fighting hunger. In grasping the extent to which people silently struggle with food insecurity, Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, reports that hunger is a reality for one in seven Americans. In Nebraska, that translates to more than 257,000 people—including one in five children.

Addressing those present for the signing ceremony, Gov. Pillen explained, “One of my favorite things as governor is signing proclamations. A proclamation gives us a chance to learn from each other and be inspired, and to make our communities better by helping the state’s brothers and sisters in need.”

The proclamation highlights how hunting provides opportunities to connect with nature while addressing food insecurity. It touts the success of the Nebraska Hunters Helping the Hungry program, launched in cooperation with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in 2011, that to date has provided 900,000 meals to Nebraskans who otherwise would go hungry. Just as important, it calls attention to recent NRA Hunters’ Leadership Forum research that shows while American hunters share more than 119 million pounds of harvested game meat with those outside their households each year, many HFH program processors reported they did not receive enough donated deer to fulfill their missions.

“All Nebraskans can help take part in the Hunters Helping the Hungry program, either by donating a donated deer, becoming a processor or even making a monetary donation to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission,” the proclamation concludes.

In sharing the scope of hunters’ impact in the Cornhusker State, the Nebraska GPC—like all state wildlife agencies—is funded largely by hunters through the “user pays, public benefits” system known as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Hunters’ dollars amounted to $17,181,339 in Pittman-Robertson funding going back to the state of Nebraska in 2024 alone for its critical wildlife and habitat conservation programs. Upholding hunters’ tradition of sharing their wild game harvests takes on even greater significance as we strive to protect hunting for future generations and promote it as a food source, a right and a vital wildlife management tool.

 For background on the Hunters for the Hungry movement, it was in the early1990s that many hunters began realizing they were able to harvest more than they could eat or share with friends and family. Hunters, state wildlife agencies, meat processors, meat inspectors and hunger relief organizations began spearheading efforts to accept hunters’ generous game meat donations for processing and distribution to needy families. During this time, the NRA launched its HFH Clearinghouse to put interested individuals in touch with local programs while assisting with public awareness and fundraising. Thirty-plus years later, the NRA continues to highlight these groups and has donated nearly $700,000 to support their efforts.

One does not have to be a hunter to appreciate how hunters give back and make a difference. Who wouldn’t feel inspired by Gov. Pillen’s proclamation as he demonstrates how deeply he cares about fellow Nebraskans’ health and well-being by remaining focused on the issues that matter to his state? Declaring November Nebraska Game Meat Donation Month helps to ensure Nebraska’s Hunters Helping the Hungry program can continue to aid those less fortunate, not just in November but all year long.