I am writing as a constituent to respectfully urge you to oppose Assembly Bill A10352 and Senate Bill S9473 (NY A10352/S9473). These bills would prohibit hunters from donating venison if a deer were harvested with a rifle using ammunition that contains lead components.

Venison donation programs are an important part of effective deer management in New York, particularly in areas where deer populations are abundant or overabundant. These programs allow hunters to continue harvesting deer beyond their personal needs, helping the state meet science-based management goals. At the same time, donated venison provides a valuable source of nutritious protein to food banks and families in need across our communities.

Restricting the ability to donate venison based on the type of ammunition used would significantly reduce participation in these programs, limiting both their conservation benefits and their role in addressing food insecurity. Hunters should be able to donate venison regardless of the method of take. I respectfully ask that you oppose NY A10352/S9473 and support policies that maintain effective wildlife management and community support programs.

Thank you for your time and consideration.