The Pros And Cons Of Hunting

The cavemen hunted Wooly Mammoths, the Indians hunted buffalo. Any time period a person can think of, there is always something that was very popular to hunt. Hunting started as a way of life for many early Americans. Hunting put food on the table, provided clothing and tools for the early Americans. Lately, however, hunting has changed for many Americans. It has become more of a sport than a way of life and because of this, it is a very controversial topic. Hunting for the sport is not all bad, but many people have started to abuse it. Now there is poaching, road hunting, and killing out of season. Advocates of hunting claim that hunting is an important component of managing wildlife populations. However, hunting opponents argue that more hunting regulations are needed to prevent animals from being hunted into extinction. Recently, the most controversial issues with hunting that have come up include: the wolf populations in the northern states, hunting in wildlife refuges, and hunting animals into extinction. Hunting should definitely not be banned or controlled because of the controversy in these areas.

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. A local farmer in Minnesota said “I like the critters don’t get me wrong, but wolves have outlived their time. City people don’t realize that beef in the cellophane wrapper comes f...

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... populations of birds. This refuge is nationally known for its waterfowl hunting because of the many ponds on the refuge. “Hunting, trapping and fishing are considered by many to be a legitimate, traditional recreational use of renewable natural resources. The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, other laws, and the Fish and Wildlife Service's policy permit hunting on a national wildlife refuge when it is compatible with the purposes for which the refuge was established and acquired.”( "Why Are Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Allowed on National Wildlife Refuges?") Since most refuges were established to preserve wildlife it is legal to hunt in them. The US Fish and Wildlife Service also says “As practiced on refuges, hunting, trapping and fishing do not pose a threat to the wildlife populations, and in some instances, are actually necessary for