Mainers look to hunting for stable, affordable food source

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 2, 2025

Prices for meat, poultry, fish and eggs have increased by about 34% since January 2018 — an increase many Mainers simply can’t afford. A family of four in Maine on a “survival budget” needs to spend a minimum of $933 per month on food, a 2023 study from United Way found. Costs to have deer meat processed range closer to $100–$150. Now, with food-related benefits potentially lapsing for about 13% of Mainers and deer season opening this month, hunting could become an even more important source for rural Maine families.