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Salt Lake Community College

Benefits of Hunting

Jefferson Mayne

ENGL-1010-303-Su17

Mantyla

August 1, 2017
Have you ever wondered what its like to harvest your own food? Now, I dont mean picking fresh fruit

from a garden or farmers market on a breezy Saturday morning. Im talking about going out into the

woods in search of wild game that feeds upon the plants that nature has to offer. I want to address the

benefits of hunting such wild game but I also want those who do not agree with this tactic to understand

that I do not intend to cause conflict, solely conversation.

When I was a young boy, around the age of 14 my father picked me up from school on amid august day.

When I got in his truck I had noticed that he had camo and rifles in the back seat. He mentioned we

were on our way to Idaho for a youth deer hunt. Fast forward a few days, its the third day of our hunt

and we finally saw some bucks (male deer) in a pasture on a farm. This was private property and the

farmer had given us permission to hunt any deer on his land due to the fact that the deer population

had grown significantly in the past year and they were eating all his crop. I was able to harvest one of

these beautiful animals and with that was able to bring home food for my family that was fresh and

lean. I was also able to help the family of the farmer in Idaho. With one less animal eating the crop the

farmer could make a little more money during the harvest.

Why share this story you might ask? Well, this personal story touches base on a few of the benefits of

huntingthree to be exact.

First, hunting is one of the only way to manage populations of animal growth. If we recount the story to

when I had entered the farmers land there was one very important reason the farmer allowed us to

hunt on his property. The deer had been destroying his crop and eating much of what he needed to sell

to be able to support his family. Now I understand that with one less deer the crops wont magically not

be eaten, but it makes a small difference to the farmer and his family.

Secondly, hunting across the United States has created many youth programs to help get kids outside

and be active and become one with nature. According to the Utah DWR (Division of Wildlife Resources)
there are multiple chances for youth hunts in the state of Utah per year. This also includes fishing and

wildlife watching. The DWR has helped more than 8,000 youth get involved with the outdoors. (Utah

Division of Wildlife Resources)

In accordance with youth hunts in the state of Utah, there are also handicap hunts. This allows a

specially regulated time period for those who have been confined to a wheelchair, are mentally or

physically challenged, or have been diagnosed with long term illness to be able to hunt the great

outdoors. This comes directly from the DWR page on hunting for people with disabilities.

We encourage people with disabilities to take advantage of Utah's natural resources. The DWR

has many licensing opportunities specifically tailored to meet the needs of citizens with

disabilities. In addition, the DWR and other public and private agencies have developed parks,

campgrounds, trail systems, fishing piers, and other programs to enable access to our natural

resources throughout the state. (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources)

As more people enter the outdoors and have experiences like mine and those of whom I have talked

about in the youth programs and handicap programs, the better of our local and national welfare will

be. With game management in full force regulating certain seasons for hunting and tracking population

of deer and other animals, crops will flourish and families will be strengthened through activities and

memories as mine has. I have seen proof that hunting benefits all those involved.

However, along with this tradition of hunting comes the forever battle of ethics; the main stand that

many activist groups take against the hunting community. The IDAUSA (In Defense of Animals USA)

campaigns against hunting. On their homepage they have a tab that directs you straight to the thoughts

they have against hunting and wildlife agencies.

Hunting the murderous business


Hunting may have played an important role, next to plant gathering and scavenging, for

human survival in prehistoric times, but the vast majority of modern hunters in developed

countries stalk and kill animals for recreation. Hunting is a violent and cowardly form of

outdoor entertainment that kills hundreds of millions of animals every year, many of

whom are wounded and die a slow and painful death.

Hunters cause injuries, pain and suffering to animals who are not adapted to defend

themselves from bullets, traps and other cruel killing devices. Hunting destroy animal

families and habitats, and leaves terrified and dependent baby animals behind to starve to

death.

Because state wildlife agencies use hunting, trapping and fishing licenses as a source of

income, todays wildlife management actively promotes the killing of wild animals, and

joined by a powerful hunting lobby even sells wildlife trophy hunts to those who enjoy

killing them. For instance, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife received

$45,000 from the sale of a killing tag for California Desert Bighorn Sheep, sold at the

41st Safari Club International Convention in Reno, Nevada. Getting the trophy carcass is

an unwritten guarantee. (In Defense of Animals)

They also give advice and guidance to those who would like to help the cause and fight for the

rights of animals on this very same webpage.

What You Can Do

Join In Defense of Animals and support our efforts to end recreational hunting.
Before you support a wildlife or conservation group, ask about its position on

hunting and trapping. Some groups, including the National Wildlife Federation,

Defenders of Wildlife, the National Audubon Society, the Izaak Walton League, the

Wilderness Society, and the World Wildlife Fund support recreational hunting, or they do

not oppose it.

If you are a student of environmental studies, conservation and natural resource

management or wildlife biology, challenge the concept of hunting as the foundation for

wildlife conservation and management. Become familiar with non-lethal human/wildlife

conflict solutions, and educate your classmates, your professors and your community.

Attend public meetings of your states wildlife agency, voice your opinion against

hunting in their public commenting process. Speak up, write letters and comments, and

encourage others to do the same.

Join or form an anti-hunting organization and help spread the word about the injustice

done against wild animals by hunters and state wildlife agencies.

Contact your states Governor and wildlife agency, and request equal consideration of

non-hunters in employment opportunities, and equal representation of non-hunters in any

decision-making process about wildlife. (In Defense of Animals)

Whether you choose to be pro-hunting or deny that hunting helps the environment, I hope this

article has helped to bring to light the issue at hand. As for me, my opinion has been stated. I

choose to be pro-hunting. I love the outdoors and it has brought my family closer together. We

have shared memories and adventures. The choice is yours.


Sources:

Accessible Wildlife for People with Disabilities, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 23 Feb. 2017,

10:04 AM.

Hunting- the Murderous Business, In Defense of Animals, 2017.

Hunting Opportunities for Utah's Youth. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 25 Jan. 2011.

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