The deer sharpshooters of Maui

Maui has a problem: too many deer, not enough hunters. So on a dark, humid night, Nate joined a group of elite hunters as they endeavor to turn an ecological nightmare into a source of profitable, high-protein venison.

Over the course of a few hours, he watches the employees of Maui Nui Venison methodically shoot dozens of deer, collect their carcasses, and speed them to a mobile slaughterhouse for processing – all under the watchful eyes of the USDA.

Can you bring the efficiency of the slaughterhouse to the natural world? And is commercial hunting a solution for America’s over-abundance of deer?

Featuring Keahi Camara, Erin Yamauchi, Jake Muise, Yasmin Tayag and Jay Marcoullier

Produced by Nate Hegyi. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org

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ADDITIONAL MATERIALS

Read Yasmin Tayag’s argument (theatlantic.com/health/2026/01/deer-hunting-ve…) that Americans must start eating more deer.

A University of Wisconsin professor outlined (wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/w…) how commercial hunting would work in the U.S. in a 2011 paper.

Check out photos and videos (patreon.com/collection/2022983?view=expanded) of my trip with Maui Nui venison at our Patreon.

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