Hunting Benefits And Laws
Hunting was a necessary pastime for thousands of years before civilization, and was a major factor in human development. However, in the modern world, agricultural practices make food readily available for people leading many to believe hunting has been rendered unnecessary, or even cruel. This is not true. Gun safety and ethical handling educations are a must for every novice hunter. The goal is for the animal to die without any suffering whatsoever. When an animal is still able to run after being shot, this causes tougher meat and nutritional irregularities because of elevated adrenaline levels. For this reason, and obvious humanitarian reasons, hunters make a clean shot their number one priority, allowing them to enjoy the wide range of benefits that the sport offers. Hunting still has many advantages and offers many contributions to today’s societies. Here’s a few:
Feeds the poor:
Getting a large buck or even many small animals can provide a hunter and their family with more meat than they can eat. When this happens, they often sell the meat or even donate it to needy families. In 2010, hunting provided 11 million meals to impoverished families just in the United States. There is a whole market for wild game meat that, in the case of enough successful hunters, can be sold in super markets. Game meat is a good opportunity for impoverished families to get cheap, natural meal varieties. Three organizations that are specifically aimed at feeding hungry families with meat from hunted animals are National Shooting Sports Foundation, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, and Hunters For The Hungry… there are many others.
"Game Meat Donations: Hunters Feed the Hungry | NSSF." Game Meat Donations: Hunters Feed the Hungry | NSSF. National Shooting Sports Foundation, 2011. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
Promotes knowledge about the outdoors and wildlife:
In addition to exercise, time in the outdoors allows hunters to gain knowledge about the natural world that surrounds them. Getting time away from people and the business of life to go hunt is often described as therapeutic and peaceful. Skilled hunters can identify native plants, decipher wildlife tracks, know mating habits and common characteristics of game, and practice basic survival skills when away from modern conveniences. There are many programs set up to introduce people to the outdoors by way of hunting and fishing, a few of them being ODFW Outdoors, HuntSAFE from South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks, and Eyes On The Outdoors.
Helps the economy:
Hunting generates money in many ways. The average hunter spends over $1,800 every year on tags, weapons, gear, camping supplies, fuel, and ammo. Federal income tax revenue from hunters totals over $2.4 billion annually. Additionally, hunting provides many jobs including game wardens, weapon manufacturers, ranch managers, tour guides, meat processors, and taxidermists. Many of these employees work in rural locations where the average income is lower, yet they have the potential to make a healthy living through hunting.
Allen, Tom, Rob Southwick, and Doug Howlett. "Hunting In America: An Economic Force For Conservation." NSSF. National Shooting Sports Foundation, Jan. 2013. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
The Economic Importance of Hunting in America. United States: International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2002. Fish Wildlife. International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2002. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
"The Economic Importance of Hunting." The Economic Importance of Hunting. California Department Of Fish And Wildlife, n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
Population control:
If humans didn't take their natural place in the food chain that they've held for millions of years, animals would over-populate, and die a slow, painful death from starvation and disease. When malnourished, animals' immune systems are weakened and they are more susceptible to tapeworm, roundworm, Lyme disease, and other contagious diseases that will spread through the herds and to the offspring. More animals would mean the rural land left in America that is open for wild game would become overgrazed. This is especially so as urban areas expand, and there is less land for deer to live on. If they run out of land, deer will move through homes and eat off lawns, out of gardens, and even in crop fields, effecting our vegetable supply and farmer's profits. Every year, 1.23 million deer are hit by U.S. motorists, causing injury or death to the animal or even the drivers, and millions of dollars in vehicle and infrastructure repair. This is a direct result of overpopulation driving wild animals into cities.
Conover, Michael R. "Effect of Hunting and Trapping on Wildlife Damage." Wildlife Society Bulletin (1973-2006) 29.2 (2001): 521-32. JSTOR. Web. 09 Dec. 2016.
"Population Control." Population Control - Living with White-tailed Deer in Illinois - University of Illinois Extension. University of Illinois Extension, n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
Wiseman, Shane, Shawnee Felts, and Matthew Brag. "Pro Hunting Research Paper Animal Rights." Scholar VT. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
So What’s the Catch?
Although hunting is very beneficial, there are people who abuse their rights. Uncontrolled hunting can have serious consequences, including putting populations at risk for endangerment or extinction, causing imbalance of ecosystems, trespassing onto privately owned land, and costing the government money. For this reason, many laws are put into place, which are enforced by game wardens, which, depending on what state they’re licensed in, often have all the same powers as police officers and sheriffs, sometimes even more (such as the right to search without a warrant). I could never list every single law that governs hunting in the U.S., but here are a few that directly relate to the handling of game animals and their meat:
Feeds the poor:
Getting a large buck or even many small animals can provide a hunter and their family with more meat than they can eat. When this happens, they often sell the meat or even donate it to needy families. In 2010, hunting provided 11 million meals to impoverished families just in the United States. There is a whole market for wild game meat that, in the case of enough successful hunters, can be sold in super markets. Game meat is a good opportunity for impoverished families to get cheap, natural meal varieties. Three organizations that are specifically aimed at feeding hungry families with meat from hunted animals are National Shooting Sports Foundation, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, and Hunters For The Hungry… there are many others.
"Game Meat Donations: Hunters Feed the Hungry | NSSF." Game Meat Donations: Hunters Feed the Hungry | NSSF. National Shooting Sports Foundation, 2011. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
Promotes knowledge about the outdoors and wildlife:
In addition to exercise, time in the outdoors allows hunters to gain knowledge about the natural world that surrounds them. Getting time away from people and the business of life to go hunt is often described as therapeutic and peaceful. Skilled hunters can identify native plants, decipher wildlife tracks, know mating habits and common characteristics of game, and practice basic survival skills when away from modern conveniences. There are many programs set up to introduce people to the outdoors by way of hunting and fishing, a few of them being ODFW Outdoors, HuntSAFE from South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks, and Eyes On The Outdoors.
Helps the economy:
Hunting generates money in many ways. The average hunter spends over $1,800 every year on tags, weapons, gear, camping supplies, fuel, and ammo. Federal income tax revenue from hunters totals over $2.4 billion annually. Additionally, hunting provides many jobs including game wardens, weapon manufacturers, ranch managers, tour guides, meat processors, and taxidermists. Many of these employees work in rural locations where the average income is lower, yet they have the potential to make a healthy living through hunting.
Allen, Tom, Rob Southwick, and Doug Howlett. "Hunting In America: An Economic Force For Conservation." NSSF. National Shooting Sports Foundation, Jan. 2013. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
The Economic Importance of Hunting in America. United States: International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2002. Fish Wildlife. International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2002. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
"The Economic Importance of Hunting." The Economic Importance of Hunting. California Department Of Fish And Wildlife, n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
Population control:
If humans didn't take their natural place in the food chain that they've held for millions of years, animals would over-populate, and die a slow, painful death from starvation and disease. When malnourished, animals' immune systems are weakened and they are more susceptible to tapeworm, roundworm, Lyme disease, and other contagious diseases that will spread through the herds and to the offspring. More animals would mean the rural land left in America that is open for wild game would become overgrazed. This is especially so as urban areas expand, and there is less land for deer to live on. If they run out of land, deer will move through homes and eat off lawns, out of gardens, and even in crop fields, effecting our vegetable supply and farmer's profits. Every year, 1.23 million deer are hit by U.S. motorists, causing injury or death to the animal or even the drivers, and millions of dollars in vehicle and infrastructure repair. This is a direct result of overpopulation driving wild animals into cities.
Conover, Michael R. "Effect of Hunting and Trapping on Wildlife Damage." Wildlife Society Bulletin (1973-2006) 29.2 (2001): 521-32. JSTOR. Web. 09 Dec. 2016.
"Population Control." Population Control - Living with White-tailed Deer in Illinois - University of Illinois Extension. University of Illinois Extension, n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
Wiseman, Shane, Shawnee Felts, and Matthew Brag. "Pro Hunting Research Paper Animal Rights." Scholar VT. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
So What’s the Catch?
Although hunting is very beneficial, there are people who abuse their rights. Uncontrolled hunting can have serious consequences, including putting populations at risk for endangerment or extinction, causing imbalance of ecosystems, trespassing onto privately owned land, and costing the government money. For this reason, many laws are put into place, which are enforced by game wardens, which, depending on what state they’re licensed in, often have all the same powers as police officers and sheriffs, sometimes even more (such as the right to search without a warrant). I could never list every single law that governs hunting in the U.S., but here are a few that directly relate to the handling of game animals and their meat:
- Every hunter must be licensed
- Every firearm must be registered and appropriate for the species being hunted
- It's illegal to hunt species out of their designated hunting seasons
- Not retrieving animal, especially if the shot did not kill it, is a class C misdemeanor
- It is criminal negligence to not keep all edible parts of the animal
- It's illegal to shoot more animals than you have tags for
- A fine of up to $10,000
- Jail time
- License suspensions for up to 5 years
- Forfeiting hunting gear