Why We Hunt
Although some people think people are unnatural, humans are part of nature. We have scavenged or hunted for food, shelter, clothing, tools, fiber (like cordage), or protection from danger since the beginning of human society. Until fairly recently some people hunted wildlife commercially, providing food, skins, and furs to a public that needed them. Remnants of these respected market hunters remain among fur trappers today, but early in the 20th century, market hunting was legally banned in the United States. Conflicts with the growing interest in sport or recreational hunting and over-exploitation of some wildlife resources were the reasons for that ban. Commons resources, like wildlife, belong to all members of the society; depleting those resources for private gain was no longer accepted. Regulation of sport hunting was passed to state and federal agencies or even to international treaty. Today people hunt for food, fur, or hides but the main reason we hunt is for recreation.
When asked why they hunt, people share a wide variety of reasons. Most hunters use the meat, hides, or fur of the animals they take. Although that is not truly subsistence hunting in most cases, enjoying the food, warmth, or other uses of the animal products is a significant reason for hunting to nearly all hunters. Sometimes we hunt to reduce the number of certain species or to eliminate individuals causing specific problems. Varmint hunters, taking woodchucks, prairie dogs, or ground squirrels from agricultural land are hunting in that mode. The most common reason for hunting is recreation. We hunt to enjoy nature, to feel a part of the natural world, to share time with companions, to be alone, to use our equipment, to enjoy working with dogs or horses, or to seek some personal challenge. Most hunters do not consciously hunt to manage wildlife, even though they are the tools of a manager. No hunter worthy of the name hunts merely to kill something. Hunting is the act of seeking specific wildlife, not killing. While the potential for a kill or harvest must be there for a true hunting experience, the act of hunting itself that provides the benefits. Killing is not recreational, nor is it to be taken lightly.
In his essay on “Wildlife in American Culture,” Aldo Leopold reviews some of the personal and social benefits and potential costs of hunting. Any activity that renews our ties to the natural world is positive. Hunting helps people realize their dependence on soil, water, air, and sunlight, renewing their sense of belonging to the natural world. Hunting also reinforces the sense of history, allowing the hunter to relive the self-reliance of pioneer times. As it renews the historical perspective, hunting has a positive impact on social and personal development. Dong something simply and for itself, like providing food for one’s family, builds self-esteem and confidence, and that is also a positive outcome. Hunting also offers an opportunity to make ethical decisions without benefit of a referee. In that regard, it can be positive or negative depending upon the ethical choices made.
Although it may be difficult to define, recreation is one of the most powerful benefits of hunting. Recreation, as the structure of the word implies, is an action or activity that rebuilds physical, mental, and spiritual resources. It is not mere play, but a vitally important factor in the health and well being of all people. For most hunters, the recreational value of sport hunting cannot be replaced with any other activity.
Hunting is important to wildlife management. Paul Ehrlich, a noted ecologist, once said that if bald eagles were good to eat or came readily to decoys they would not be endangered. He implied that having a group of dedicated people with a vested interest in a species provided some protection for that species and its environment. Far beyond their utility to the manager as a harvest tool, hunters have a significant impact on wildlife and environmental issues. They speak for wildlife and wildlife management. They provide a powerful support base for voiceless resources that cannot vote or pay taxes.
Hunters also put their money where their mouth is. They pay special taxes, that they themselves asked and fought for, on arms and ammunition to support wildlife and conservation education. License and permit fees form nearly all of the support for resource management programs. They are also the most common supporters of non-game and conservation programs, even where they are not directly connected to hunting activities. Hunters are responsible for the development of the national wildlife refuge system, and it was a group of hunters who devised the National Parks system. Hunters also support many private organizations that work for wildlife and conservation. The list of those organizations is too long to include here, but it ranges from the National Wildlife Federation and the National Audubon Society to groups interested in specific species or groups of species, like the National Wild Turkey Federation, Quail Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, or Pheasants Forever and even to local groups that may service a bunch of wood duck or bluebird boxes as a club project.
Why do we hunt? We hunt because it is what we are. We hunt because we need the benefits it gives us. We hunt to eat. We hunt to protect crops and livestock. We hunt to rebuild our personal reserves, our spiritual strength, and our mental health. We hunt because we enjoy it and it makes us better human beings
