Unit VII Assignment
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Hunting as an Important Conservation Tool
Zachary Tipp
Columbia Southern University
ENG 1302 English Composition II
Gregory Underwood
September 19, 2023
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Hunting as an Important Conservation Tool
Hunting has played a significant role in our species survival for about two million years. It may no longer be necessary to the survival of our species, but it still plays a key role in the conservation of the animals we hunt. This concept may seem like a contradiction, but I assure you it is accurate. There are people out there that will have you believe that hunters are only killing animals for sport and because they are prone to anger. The reality is that most hunters enjoy the hunt, the fresh meat for our freezers and the experience of being outside. Most of us do
not enjoy the action of killing the animal we are hunting. We understand that most of the funding
that wildlife agencies use for wildlife conservation comes from the sale of tags, licenses, and hunting gear. Without hunting there would be no funding for these agencies. Regulated hunting has proven to be a valuable wildlife conservation tool that is far more humane than the alternatives would be. The Literature Review
Most arguments against hunting come from false narratives put forward by animal rights groups. In an effort to educate the reader this paper will explain why hunting is an important part
of wildlife conservation. It will also explain why most of the arguments against hunting are false and misleading. The following considers the survival of game animals and the efforts put forth by state and federal wildlife agencies to conserve these species. Wildlife Conservation Tactics
Most people are unfamiliar with the processes and procedures that wildlife agencies follow to conserve various wildlife species. These agencies employ hundreds if not thousands of people for various jobs. These jobs include wildlife biologists, game wardens, park rangers as
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well as administrative positions that help keep the agency running. They study wildlife habitats, patterns, and health to determine the best course of action to maintain a healthy sustainable population in the animal's ecosystem. All of these employees and the work they do costs the agencies money. The most important and largest source of funding for these agencies comes from the sale of hunting tags, permits and licenses. The second most important and largest source
of funding for these agencies comes from federal aid via the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-
Johnson Acts (State Wildlife Funding). The Pittman-Robertson act imposed an excise tax on the sale of firearms, ammunition, firearms accessories, and archery equipment. That money is set aside for distribution to wildlife agencies for the management and conservation of wildlife (
The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act explained). The Dingell-Johnson Act does the same thing that the Pittman-Robertson act does but focusses more on fishing and includes taxes on things like boat sales, boat fuel and fishing gear and supplies (Sport Fish Restoration). In Favor of Hunting
"It isn’t all about killing animals, it’s about preparation, it’s about the chase and becoming so in touch with your surroundings that all else in the world is set aside for a brief moment in time. It is a time when I can be my primordial self and just experience the world without artificial influences. The sights, the smell of moist soil under foot, the sensation that I am
completely self-sufficient in a world where I am only a visitor is the greatest feeling ever." - Max Trujillo (Trujillo, Max)
The above quote sums up why most hunters enjoy the activity. Hunting is engrained in these people's lives. They have grown up in the woods hunting white tail, or the high desert hunting mule deer. Some of our brethren farther north have spent their lives chasing moose, caribou or elk. For these people it is a family tradition, a way of life and a means of bringing
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children, aunts, uncles, fathers and grandfathers together to enjoy the great outdoors. If they are lucky, they will have some fresh meat to fill their freezer and share with family and friends. These people are not hunting because they are prone to violence, they are hunting because it is part of their heritage, and they would rather see their hard-earned money go to support wildlife conservation than to some corporation and the pockets of its executives. They hunt because they have a respect for wildlife and the animals they choose to pursue. They hunt because they know that there is no greater feeling than being one with the great outdoors. They know that in harvesting their own meat and being self-sufficient they are also ensuring that they are supporting a system where the animals that they will consume have lived free and on the lands that they were meant to live. They know that they are not being pumped full of growth hormones
antibiotics and steroids to maximize profits. Most hunters know and understand that without the money they spend on tags, licenses, permits, gear, guns and equipment, wildlife agencies would not have the money they need to perform the vital tasks involved in wildlife conservation (State Wildlife Funding). Opposed to Hunting
Those people and organizations that oppose hunting believe that the wild animals that we hunt are put through more pain and suffering than those animals that grow up on factory farms and never know what it is like to be free. They believe that the act of hunting disrupts migration and hibernation patterns more so than the animals not having enough food to survive. They believe that if left alone nature would be able to manage wildlife species more humanely and more effectively than regulated hunting. Organizations such as PETA, falsely claim that hunters are merely in it for the “trophy” and even though there are laws against the wasting of meat from
game animals, this happens regularly (
Why ‘Sport’ Hunting Is Cruel and Unnecessary)
. These
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organizations refuse to acknowledge that it is possible for a hunter to be ethical and still take a “trophy”. Literature Review Conclusion
While people may disagree on most of the reasons for and against hunting, the effectiveness of regulated hunting on wildlife conservation cannot be disputed. Hunters provide most of the funding that wildlife management agencies need to provide wildlife conservation. Hunting is a tool that these organizations use to manage herd sizes and maintain a sustainable wildlife population in each ecosystem. Regulated hunting is absolutely necessary to any effective
wildlife conservation program and those that oppose it are actively opposing conservation efforts
(
Eichler, L., & Baumeister, D.)
. Arguments in Favor of Regulated Hunting
Hunting Is More Than Just Killing
For most hunters hunting is more about enjoying the outdoors than it is about killing an animal. For most it is about being outdoors, enjoying the wilderness and escaping the chaos of their everyday lives (
Trujillo, Max). There is nothing quite like the complete absence of modern life to take you away from your everyday life. For many it is about honoring tradition and connecting with family and friends on a level that few people can relate to (Trujillo, Max). Sharing one's love for the outdoors and wildlife with those that you love creates a bond that will not soon be forgotten. Most of us realize that these places and animals that we so enjoy are disappearing at an alarming rate and that it is imperative that we preserve them for future generations. Hunting Provides Most of the Funding for Wildlife Conservation
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It is widely known amongst hunters and anglers that most of the funding that wildlife agencies receive for conservation comes from hunters and anglers. The number one source of funding for most state wildlife agencies is through the sale of tags, permits and licenses (State Wildlife Funding). Most state wildlife agencies are considered enterprise agencies because they rely on the sale of a product for much of their revenue. The number two source of funding for most state wildlife agencies is through federal grants under the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-
Johnson Acts (State Wildlife Funding). The Pittman-Robertson act provides grant funding through an excise tax on the sale of all firearms, ammunition, firearm accessories, and archery equipment (Lueck, D., & Parker, D. P.). The Dingell-Johnson act provides grant funding through
an excise tax on boats, boating equipment, boating fuel, fishing equipment and fishing supplies (Sport Fish Restoration). Hunters take considerable pride in knowing that they are helping conserve wildlife so that they can continue to be free and roam the lands that they were meant to.
Restoring Populations to Their Natural Ranges
Hunters love to see wildlife in their natural habitat and free from modern influences. It is with overwhelming support from the hunting community that wildlife conservation agencies have been able to restore elk populations to much of their natural range in the Eastern United States (Ballard, Lisa). This was accomplished through the use of conservation funds raised from the sale of tags, permits and licenses as well as private donations from the hunting community. This was no small task and without the support of the hunting community, it would have been impossible to complete. Conclusion
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Hunting may seem like an outdated and unnecessary practice to some. The days of relying on hunting as a sole means of feeding a household are long gone. However, this does not mean that it is not necessary. Hunting and the hunting community provide nearly all of the funding for wildlife conservation. Without hunting and hunters, it would be impossible for wildlife agencies to manage wildlife, wildlife ecosystems and the repopulation of wildlife to natural ranges. Even for those that do not agree with hunting it should be easy to see that hunters are conservationists and that they are necessary to the survival of these animals. Who, if not hunters, would be willing to spend billions of dollars a year on wildlife conservation?
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References
Ballard, Lisa. (2021) Elk Thrive in the Eastern U.S. Izaak Walton League of America.
https://www.iwla.org/publications/outdoor-america/articles/outdoor-america-2021-issue-
1/elk-thrive-in-the-eastern-us
Eichler, L., & Baumeister, D. (2018, January 1). Hunting for Justice: An Indigenous Critique of the North American hunting Model of Wildlife Conservation. Environment and Society, 9(1)
, 75. Lueck, D., & Parker, D. P. (2022) Federal Funding and State Wildlife Conservation. Land Economics, 98(3)
, 1-18.
Sport Fish Restoration. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
r.d. September 15, 2023. https://www.fws.gov/program/sport-fish-restoration.
State Wildlife Funding. Wildlife for All.
r.d. September 15, 2023. https://wildlifeforall.us/resources/overview-state-wildlife-management/state-wildlife-
funding/
The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act explained. Wildlife for All.
r.d. September 15, 2023. https://wildlifeforall.us/resources/pittman-robertson-wildlife-restoration-act-
explained/
Trujillo, Max. (2023, March 22). Hunters are conservationists. We play an important role in preserving the land and the habitat for wildlife. National Wildlife Federation.
https://www.nwf.org/Outdoors/Blog/03-22-2023-Hunting-and-Conservation
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Why ‘Sport’ Hunting Is Cruel and Unnecessary.
r.d. September 15, 2023. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. https://www.peta.org/issues/wildlife/wildlife-factsheets/sport-
hunting-cruel-
unnecessary/
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