From
the outside looking in, hunting and fishing may seem completely detrimental to
wildlife protection and conservation.
However, this is not the case; the facts actually prove the opposite. The multi-billion dollar impact that hunting
has on conservation is irreplaceable. Hunters
are the primary reason for the extreme conservation efforts that are being taken
today. This is made possible through a
number of different legislative acts and delegations.
According
to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there were 13.7 million people above the
age of 16 who went hunting in 2011 (Texas alone had over 1 million hunters
during the 2011 seasons). This group
also spent a whopping $38.3 billion on hunting licenses, equipment, ammunition
and much more. These statistics do not even count hunters who are under the age
of 16! This large amount of funds goes
on to provide a countless number of jobs (around 680,000). These funds are the driving force for several
small, rural towns throughout the United States.
The statistics stated above mean
a great deal to our nation’s current conservation efforts. The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act,
which was established in 1937, places a special tax on firearms and ammunition
for the purpose of wildlife and habitat conservation. The hunter’s contribution does not end
here. Through the Federal Aid in
Wildlife Restoration Act, purchasing of licenses and permits and direct
donations to conservation programs, hunters provide around $1.6 billion to
conservation annually.
Now hold on there is more great
news, in the past 5 years hunting expenditures have grown around 55%. That means that the practice of hunting and
the economic impact it brings will continue to grow. Conservation without hunters is like a car
without an engine or a bike without a rider, we need these funds to continue to
help the flourishing wildlife populations that these efforts directly
serve.
So now, I encourage hunters to
keep on hunting, in fact hunt harder. I
encourage fathers and mothers to educate their children on the importance of
hunting and if at all possible to take their kids hunting. Even if you are not a hunter or outdoorsmen,
conservation is something you can still contribute to. Get involved in observing or photographing
wildlife, the options are endless. Let’s
give conservation an even more powerful engine and watch it take off.
A specific example is seen in
quail hunting and conservation. According
to the publication “What’s a Quail Worth” which was published by Texas A&M
University AgriLife Extension, since 1981 the number of quail hunters in the
state of Texas has decreased around 80%.
Quail hunters were recorded to spend $8,606 for 8.8 days of
hunting. When combined with quail harvest
data, this means that a quail is worth $253. This statistic alone shows that
quail are a very valuable species and that they require our attention. However, there are a couple of problems. First of all, as you can see in the
statistics previously stated, quail hunting is expensive. Also, the opportunity for quality quail
hunting has drastically decreased. For a
species that has a struggling life history, funds provided by hunters as well
as efforts by our researchers and private landowners are extremely important
for the well-being and conservation of quail.
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| Northern Bobwhite Quail |
Sources
Allen, Tom,
Rob Southwick, and Doug Howlett. "Hunting in America." NSSF. Association of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies, Jan. 2013. Web. 27 Jan.
2014.