Sharing and consuming wild harvested meat (WHM)—a culturally significant interaction within nature worldwide ––creates links between human and natural systems. Little is known about the dynamics of WHM sharing and consumption in modern society, particularly in areas of the global north. My objective was to identify provisional and cultural ecosystem services provided by WHM in Michigan. I assessed how much venison is harvested, revealed sharing behaviors of hunters, and estimated the number and attributes of individuals providing and receiving venison. Questions about provider behaviors were included in the statewide 2013 Michigan Deer Harvest Study. In addition, telephone interviews with adult Michigan residents identified statewide WHM consumption patterns and receiver characteristics. I estimate 26-33 million pounds of wild harvested venison were procured during the 2013 Michigan deer hunting season. More than 85% of hunters who harvested a deer in 2013 shared their venison. Approximately 72% of Michigan residents have consumed venison at least once in their lifetime, nearly 50% of who reported consuming venison at least once in the past 12 months. Hunter providing behaviors magnify the potential number of people coupled to natural systems through hunting. In the absence of economic markets for WHM, the distribution of the provisional ecosystem service is extensive throughout the Michigan landscape. Nonetheless, the closed nature of sharing networks creates potential limits to the number and types of beneficiaries within this system. Policies or programs that encourage sharing of WHM can be expected to broaden the number and type of people connected to hunting and natural systems.
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