The Prominent Role of Hunting in Conservation, Ecology, and Community Development

Perhaps you have ever wondered why hunting is important. Since the beginning of mankind’s existence, hunting has been a vital necessity for survival. Nowadays, it is a leisure activity that takes place in habitats that allow the existence of numerous species of wild animals that can be hunted and that constitute a great attraction for the hunter. Even wildlife hunting competitions are organized across the world where anglers and hunters to embark on unforgettable outdoor adventures by showcasing their skills, fostering conservation and a deeper respect for nature. As a result, they contribute to maintaining sustainable wildlife populations.

Wildlife hunting has become a very important activity that is not limited to just a sporting or leisure activity, but also generates business and boosts economy, resulting in a great socio-economic influence in the areas where it is carried out. Of course, hunting activities are subject to certain limits, suggesting that hunting grounds and estates do not engage in practices that could damage the hunting’s reputation. The focus is on ensuring that the ethical standards and conservation efforts protecting both the practice and wildlife are maintained.

The Vital Role of Hunting in Environmental Conservation

Banning hunting would be really damaging to the environment. That’s why there is a realization among governments that organize wildlife hunting events, contributing to the environment’s conservation. Thanks to it, there are very large areas that have been kept intact, preventing other highly aggressive activities to the environment. For this reason, hunters are obliged to pay licenses and taxes for carrying out the activity, so that the money can later be reinvested in conservation activities.

Researchers reported that aspects, such as predator control, the impact of the supply of water or food or the repopulations themselves are favorable for all species. Even in the case of predator control, it was also advantageous for some prey species, highlighting the negative consequences of illegal control over protected species. But it was also found that overly intensive management, based on the release of farm animals, can be very harmful to certain bird species.

For this reason, the researchers came to the conclusion that the ideal would be to carry out a management. This is a strategic approach based on a perfect blend of the maintenance of suitable habitats, a sustainable natural population base. In addition, it also involves the correct use of feeders and waterers, the maintenance of reserve areas, and the regulation of hunting pressure. In some cases, it is necessary to ensure an effective and legal control of predators from which other species whose conservation is of special interest can benefit.

Hunting as a Vital Tool for Wildlife Health Management

One of the most common lies about hunting is that it contributes to the extinction of many animals. On the contrary, it has been shown that hunting is an activity of great importance in terms of the direct health management of game populations, both directly and indirectly, due to its potential to spread to livestock and other non-game species. For example, feline leukemia, transmitted by wild cats, is a terrible threat to the Iberian lynx, an endangered species. Outside the United States, enormous successes have been achieved in this regard with the snow leopard and it seems that it could also help save the endangered rhinoceros.

Hunting is therefore protecting many species around the world. And, although it may not make the headlines, there are many American hunters who have been working for years to recover endangered species such as the lynx or the brown bear. Here, we have two prominent examples:

  1. Theodore Roosevelt established The Boone and Crockett Club, which has been influential in the species’ recovery like the brown bear through its support for eco-friendly hunting and wildlife habitat protection.
  2. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation focuses on habitat preservation and management, and has successfully contributed to the revival of elk populations.

Studies also emphasize that it is necessary to take these health aspects into consideration in hunting management and conservation. The reason is that game species are potential carriers and transmitters of diseases that are often shared with humans, livestock, and other wildlife.

Hunting as a Strategy for Population Control in Wildlife

It is very important to maintain adequate population densities of big game ungulates. Researchers present logical reason that overpopulation can pose a major problem for the regeneration of woody species and a threat to forest dynamics. In fact, these are fundamental aspects within the debate that has arisen regarding the possibility of banning hunting in National Parks.

But you should also know that the populations of deer have experienced spectacular growth in recent decades in the USA, which has led to a significant increase in the number of rifle hunters. Since 2000, approximately 50% increase in the number of rifle hunters has been noticed, and the hunting of wild boar has escalated by around 150% since 2005 alone. Overall, around 350% growth has been observed in the economic impact of big game hunting. As a result, these statistics have contributed meaningfully to a drop in damage to agriculture and wildlife-related traffic accidents.

The fact is that accidents involving huntable species now constitutes around 60% of such incidents. The role of hunting events is critical in these dynamics, influencing both the management of wildlife populations and the associated economic repercussions

The Intersection of Hunting, Research, and Biodiversity Conservation

Many renowned researchers devote a lot of time and effort to studying the conservation, management, and use of wildlife species and their habitats, which then has consequences for other species. The ban on hunting could lead to a loss of biodiversity. For example, as a result of the “Cecil effect”, the number of hunting trips to Zimbabwe fell considerably. Consequently, this highly publicized killing of Cecil – the Lion in Zimbabwe – in July 2015 made the overpopulation of felines in some parts of the country unsustainable. At that time, experts stated that it was necessary to reduce the number of lions by at least 200 specimens.

But you don’t have to go that far to find examples of this kind. In 1999, the Netherlands decided to ban goose hunting. Since then, the number of these animals has multiplied by 2,000, which has meant that the Dutch have to face an annual expense of 11 million euros just to remedy the serious damage they cause to agriculture. And not only that, they also pose a serious risk to air traffic, which is why the government has decided to use gas to control their population.

The Importance of Hunting in Children’s Development

Some may object, but the truth is that hunting plays a significant role in the healthy development of children who engage in it. Basically, hunting helps children counteract Nature Deficit Disorder, referring to the growing disconnection between children and the natural world. For example, hunting, in Alaska, is common and presented to children as an essential and natural part of their lives.