My Views on Hunting

Hunting can be considered the practice of trapping or killing animals, or pursuing them with the intention of either trapping or killing them. Although this practice was a vital part of the survival of humans 100,000 years ago, it is now considered a violent form of recreation that a majority of hunters do not require for subsistence (National Research Council, 1995). This is because it has contributed heavily to the endangerment, extinction and extirpation of animal species globally. Less than 5% of the population which accounts to 13.7 million people in the United States hunts animals, yet hunting is allowed in numerous national forests, state parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands (U.S. Fish and Wildfire Service, 2012).

They eat crops that humans need for survival. They eat all of the food in their area, so they have to come to our crops. In fact, several years ago, authorities passed the Buck Law, which was meant to stop hunting so many deer. Thanks to such strongly restricted laws, deer populations expanded rapidly but ended by causing serious damage to crops. The Buck Law was soon useless.3 A group of farmers in North Texas stated, “Each year, we lose more and more money because of those stupid white-tail deer.

Why were these stopped? “It’s those damn tree-huggers again.” Reintroducing Wolves into the southwest is the biggest mistake the government has made in several years. Farmers and ranchers suffer some of the most losses from wolves out of anyone in our society. For one, the wolves eat cattle, which is some rancher’s only means of income. Yes, there are programs which reimburse ranchers for their losses, but the raising calves to cows, feeding them, and immunizing them is more money than one wants to put out for one animal if it isn’t your income.

Ever since the Pilgrims were introduced to the Indians, the deer was a big meat source for survival. They used the meat, bones for various needs, including sewing and the fur for clothing. The deer became an everyday hunted game. The decline of the deer population began. Before Mayflower Landed, Indians had a Saying "you only killed what you can eat, so that you can eat tomorrow', the forest itself did not provide the optimum habitat necessary to maintain the deer population.

Because of the efforts of these concerned people the whitetail population has risen to around 20 million. The deer population has increased so much that in many areas, they suffer from chronic starvation. “Bucks only” laws passed years ago to help in re-establishing the dwindling deer herds now work against the deer by resulting in an overabundance of does. Even with the overabundance of does many hunters refuse to shoot a doe. They believe in the old saying, “It takes a doe to yield a buck.” This is entirely true but it ignores the basic law of nature that any piece of land, and the food and cover in it, can support only so much game.

The following factors are responsible for their decline. Hunting, loss of habitat, and just plain apathy on part of the public to preserve the bio diversity of our land. During 1994/95, a total of 19,430 bear hunting licenses were issued to both residential and non-residential people. There were 3,790 so-called legal bear kills in BC alone. It is estimated that out of every one legally killed bear be it grizzly or black two are killed illegally by poachers primarily just for their paws, head, gall bladder, and reproductive organs.

Coyotes and bears are a common sight in the woods. These animals, along with others, are predators that help to control deer population but also decrease the amount of land allowed to the deer. In Western NC, deer rates have fallen and bag limits have been reduced. In Pennsylvania, biologists have conducted a lengthy study to determine fawn mortality and predation. Predators killed 46% of fawns, (Hart).

Farmers have been known to kill the deer “inhumanely” when they trespass on their land, many hunters believe that it is better to hunt the deer than to let a farmer take a random shot at it, they say that hunting is a lot more human for the animal and they don’t feel the pain, they die instantly. Many businesses in the hunting towns rely hugely on the hunts. Many of the businesses would be out of business if hunting was to be banned in the UK. Some of the businesses affected would be: · Saddlery · Hotels · Pubs Many of the proprietors of these businesses believe in hunting and believe that it has to be done to stop the deer eating all the crops and ruining the countryside by eating everything! Hunters, as you know use dogs to chase the deer, although the dogs never actually come into contact with the deer, and the deer are never ever attacked by the dogs, the dogs are used purely to track the

The weak are sorted out and the strong survive. The same goes for the wolves. The wolves that are injured or have diseased cannot survive. When they die scavengers get to eat their meat, which contributes to the ecosystem. Another pro is more people come to Yellowstone National Park to see the wolves since they were extinct for more then 30 years.

Since the early 2000’s, the wolf population in the northern states has become one great debate. Many want wolves to stay because of their history and significant to the Indians. The Indians believed that the wolf meant magic and brought self-reliance, endurance and keen intelligence. While many ranchers and farmers want the wolves gone. They cause their livestock to become stressed and the wolves will also kill many of the younger livestock for food.