When I was growing up, the state didn't have a system that they do now of donating a deer. Even road kill deer where gathered up and tossed into a deer dump. Family members of mine (distant) were on government assistance, but only gave enough for the essentials. (Bread, milk, eggs etc.) You get meat and you had no aid left. They would shot a deer out of season to provide meat on the table. They both worked, but the pay was so small that they only had enough money to pay the bills and that was it. Christmas time, if nobody bought there kids anything, they didn't get anything. In that type of situation, yes I would say poaching was ok. Now that the state has something in place to help out, then no, unless it is true survival like drhuntr said.