(2) HUNTING AND ITS ROLE IN CONSERVATION

Demographics of American Hunters

Younger ages increasing; female numbers increasing, but variable (have higher churn); little diversity, 77% white, midwest = highest participation rate; suburban-living hunting higher than urban-living; majorly hunt on private land; increasing upper levels of hunter income; majorly hunting big and small game

Churn

Not buying a license consistently, less avid

Recreational Hunting

The pursuit of certain wildlife species for personal satisfactions, with an intent to harvest and possess one or more individual animals; harvest is not required, but experience and drive is

American hunters survey

Created by Fish and Wildlife Service; conducted every 5 years

Why do people hunt?

Experiencing the outdoors, relaxing/escaping, obtaining own food, spending time with family/friends, engaging in a challenging experience; affiliation achievement, appreciation (2/3 start before age 20; others begin after obtaining means of transportation, money, and time)

Why do people stop hunting?

Lack of time, family/school/work, no places to go (lack of private land), no one to hunt with (previous mentor has passed on), physical limitations, cost, move to new area, crowded hunting areas

Why do people NOT hunt?

Lack of opportunity/mentor/place/tradition, reluctance to kill animals, too many other interests/no time, cost/equipment needs

Cultural values of recreational hunting

Heritage, lifestyle, family bonds, societal bonds, individual identity, art/folklore/religion, spiritual (sense of having deep connection with nature), manner of take (use of dogs/bait/technology)

Economic values of recreational hunting

$45.2 billion in total hunting expenditures (including equipment and trip-related); income from hunting (license fees, state licenses, permits, stamps (Federal Duck Stamp (required to hunt migratory waterfowl, funds used to develop wetlands), Federal aid (Pittman-Robertson Act (funds distributed to state agencies to fund huntng (including shooting ranges)), membership dues (over $1.1 billion)); contributions (money is used to fund state and private programs, support habitat work that benefits game and non-game species); values (industry supports more than 540,000 jobs, $8.3 billion in annual federal tax money generated by hunters)

Rural economic development

Hunting’s economic activity brings urban money to rural places (duck hunting worth $4.25 billion annual economic impact, wisconsin weapon deer season estimated $2.2 billion annual economic impact); money flows from coasts to heartland

Scientific values of recreational hunting

Hunters help by providing data/samples; population information (population estimates sex, ratios, age classes, reproductive rates, harvest success rates); disease surveillance (CWD, TB (tuberculosis), rabies, canine distemper, parasites, avian influenza)

Biological/ecological values of recreational hunting

Population management (snow geese); mitigate habitat damage; relief from agricultural and property damage; reduce effects of disease, starvation, malnutrition; protect T and E species (shorebirds, sea turtles) (targeted predator removal); species restoration (habitat/predators); protect human health and safety (species becoming too human-habituated, deer-vehicle collisions impacting human deaths in the U.S.)

Personal values of recreational hunting

Hunting provides enormous recreational opportunities for society; hunters spent 241 million days afield, 165 million trips; majority of modern hunters do not hunt because of need, but rather desire

Personal contributions to recreational hunting

11 million meals are provided annually to the less fortunate through donations of venison by hunters (nearly 2.8 million pounds of game meat makes its way to shelters, food banks, and church kitchens onto the plates of those in need); voluntary contributions (time and labor, self-imposed restrictions (influence conservation decisions and wildlife management practices, political voices for management, citizen organizations (lobby and litigate), “spring hearings,” public forums; community of experts

Hunting and trapping approval ratings

~5.6% of U.S. population hunts; ~75% of Americans approve of hunting (when the meat is utilized); 94% of Americans believe in a person’s right to hunt

Misconceptions - Cruel and inhumane

Hunters believe one of the most humane ways to die than being eaten, starving to death

Misconceptions - Unsafe

Hunter education now required in all 50 states