Hunting is a major asset to the state of West Virginia. In order to ensure that it remains an asset, there are laws and guidelines for each sport, there are seasons for each animal, and there is special equipment that is recommended for each season and animal.
Since before Europeans settled here, hunting has been a tradition. Deer, turkey, and bear numbers are much higher now than they were in early history due to the lack of regulations. These animals were a major factor in the survival of early settlement here and an even larger factor in West Virginia hunting.
There are many laws and regulations for each animal in order to manage wildlife populations in West Virginia. The first wild game laws were passed in 1869. Population numbers didn’t
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start to increase until well into the 20th century. The 1933 act replaced game protectors with conservation officers. All hunting seasons in West Virginia begin in the fall.
This excludes the spring turkey season. Spring turkey season was not a thing until 1968 in which it became a popular sport. Deer, bear, and turkey bring in the most attention although squirrel and rabbit bring in thousands of hunters every year. Rabbit numbers however have declined dramatically due to the loss of fields and the addition of many wooded areas.
When West Virginias first hunting laws were enacted in 1869 hunting took place all throughout the year but the fall was still the favored time because animals had fattened on the food sources that summer brings, animals had matured from being born, and it was easier to preserve the meat. Hunting laws today protect and recognize these things as hunting only takes place in the fall. This lets animal populations grow while being managed at the same time.
Early on hunting was unregulated and only for food and clothing of the people. Today it is more than just a heritage and tradition. It is more advanced and a major sport in the world and West Virginia. Hunting is about conservation and management of animal
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populations. Hunting started out as just a way of life for early settlers. Hunting was how they survived and without hunting, people might not have. It was the only option they really had back then. In today’s world there are many reasons people hunt. Some hunt for the meat, some hunt for the trophy, and some simply do it for the adrenaline of the chase. Whatever the reason, hunting generates millions of dollars for the state of West Virginia per year. When hunting was strictly for food the tactics were very different. They hunted in groups of at least five or more. They would all go walking through the hills in hopes of getting a shot on an animal. Getting a kill was much more important and much more difficult to accomplish. It was at times a matter of life and death for some. Hunting provided food and clothing for early settlers. There were no game laws or guidelines. It wasn’t a sport or simply something that people did for fun. It was how they survived. Today’s hunting is much different. It is a sport. It consists of more preparation and practice. People work hard throughout the offseason in order to be ahead of the animals; whether it is planting food plots or scouting the woods. And although it is impossible to know the exact movements of animals, technology it has made it much easier to predict. There are trail cameras that tell you every time a deer moves through a specific place. This gives hunters the edge that they need in order to make a kill. People hang stands and set blinds in order to stay hidden. Special camos have been produced by brands like Realtree and Mossy Oak to help hunters be unseen. With technological changes hunting has become one of the biggest sports all across the world. With advances in clothing and tactics of hunting, the weapons have also changed dramatically. Long before the 20th century people used whatever they could find in order to make a kill. Whether it be a stick bow with a personal made arrow head on wooden arrows or a personal made spear, people would do anything in order to harvest the game they were after. Today’s weapons are much more advanced. Bows have advanced from sticks and strings.
Now days, bows have cams, wheels, risers, limbs, strings, cables, string stops, cable guards and tons of technology put into each one bow. Today you get the bow that suits you. There are a lot of different options to ensure that each his own. In today’s bow hunting world you use sights, arrow rests, stabilizers, quivers, and releases. Every advantage is used to harvest game. Bows have come a long way from the start of hunting and they will continue to become technologically advance as time goes on.
Guns have also become more advanced through technology. Guns have more power and are easier to use. Scopes have been created in order for more accurate long range shots at game. It gives hunters more advantage when in the woods.
Hunting has been around for a very long time and has been a big factor in wildlife management. It has played a major role in shaping wildlife in West Virginia. Without hunting it is hard to think about what the state would be like. As technology evolves so does the sport. Hunting is a tradition and will continue to
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amount of game allowed to kill. Today we have an abundance of deer in Kentucky,
The wolves’ were hunted in late 1800 s’ and early 1900‘s in the United States because farmers wanted more land for their cattle’s to graze upon. As farmers were moving out west they felt threaten that the wolves would hunt their cattles so the farmers thought that the best solution would be to take them out of the picture. This was possible because at the time there were no government regulations on hunting....
Thesis: The population of white-tail deer in Alabama has drastically increased over the past century causing significant damage to property and homeowners, caused by hunters being less active.
I believe that it is time to make Quality Deer Management a part of every hunters game plan. The benefits may not happen right away but after a couple of years you will have years and years of quality hunting. You not only will have a better hunting experience but you will also have fun implementing Quality Deer Management on your land.
Hunting has become one of most popular sports, dating all the way back to the first Homo Sapiens known as hunter-gatherers. They were called hunter-gatherers because they hunted for food, gathered and then skinned it to eat. Most humans lived this way until about 12,000 years ago.
During the 1600s, when Jamestown’s first settlers arrived, there were between 24 and 31 million white-tailed deer in North America (4). As settlers pioneered farther west, the deer population steadily decreased until a dramatic drop in the 19th century. By the end of the century, less than half-a-million deer were left. In some parts of the United States, there are none. In 1886, the US Supreme Court forced hunters to get licenses and follow certain restrictions.
Since the beginning of time man has been hunting animals for food. Even before fire, man needed to hunt, because hunting was the only way to eat. At first man used things such as spears and rocks to kill its prey. As man evolved, they started using bows and arrows. Next came an early model of what we use today, the firearm. It is powerful yet easy to carry around. It puts the animal through less suffering and is a lot more efficient than previous techniques. Hunting was once a necessity, but now it is a tradition, passed on from father to son as a way to spend time together, enjoy the outdoors, and experience what our ancestors went through in hunting their dinner. Since it is considered a sport some think we are killing off the deer population, when in actuality, “While most other big-game species have declined with the spread of urbanization, the whitetail has been able to adapt to its ever-changing environment. Through the efforts of state agencies and conservation groups like Whitetails Unlimited, wildlife officials estimate today’s whitetail population to exceed 30 million” (www.whitetailsunlimited.org).
Many people have misconceptions about hunting. One such misconception is that hunting is easy and any person can go sit in the woods and wait for an animal to cross the hunter’s path. However, people who believe this are sorely mistaken. Hunting is not just sitting in the woods with a rifle; there are many other aspects that must be considered. An individual must have all preparations complete, purchase or gather the equipment needed, and know what to listen for while in the woods.
It is early in the morning; the majestic Elk bugles in the distance. The sun is kissing the tops of the peaks with the most beautiful gold, and painting the clouds rose red. The men and women who enjoy the outdoors whether it is hunting or just hiking help make these types of moments possible. Hunting and the ecosystem is tied closely to conservation of land and animals. The articles of “Hunting and the ecosystem” written by the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Department (SDGFP), and “Facts and statistics on wildlife conservation” written by Roger Holmes, director of the Fish and Wildlife, touch on how hunting is important in the environment to keep a good balance in the ecosystem. They also point out how hunters do more than any other organization for wildlife and environment. Our country was created by outdoors men who hunted and they passed their knowledge of the outdoors to their kids. Hunting has worked its way down from the generation and we should learn to “pass it on” Hunting is great for the environment and wildlife and should be preserved for the ages to come.
Beginning with the creation of the world, hunting has been over thousands of years for a number of reasons. Nowadays, hunting is considered one of the most interesting outdoor activities that have many advantages. However, hunting is a very controversial topic, for some might consider it very harmful and dangerous for the environment. Although this point of view is adopted by a part of the society, one can counter it with a numerous reasons. Hunting provides several benefits for those who partake in it and for the environment as well.
Hunters often reveal that being in nature provides time to clear the mind. In the woods, there is no rush, no schedule, and no deadlines; nature moves at its own pace. This interaction provides a deep spiritual connection with the land, the wildlife, and our planet. Hunting has been around since the beginning of time and has been in many people 's lives for generations, these are some reasons why people all across America continue to hunt. Hunting has many benefits such as reducing deer related car accidents, controlling deer densities in heavily human populated areas, creates jobs, and feeding and supporting families. Thus, deer hunting is necessary for several reasons.
It’s a brisk November morning like any other day, but today isn’t any other day, today is the first day of firearm deer season. Shots are going off everywhere like world war three declared on deer. I’m wrapped in every hunting garment I own but winters cold embrace always finds its way in. My cheeks are rosy red and my breath was thick in the air. As I raise my shotgun and pull the trigger, my heart races and my hands shake. As I race after my prize, the sounds of leaves crunching beneath my feet are muffled by the ringing in my ears. I’m walking face to the ground like a hound on a trail and then my eyes caught it, my very first whitetail. I will never forget my first deer and the joy I felt sharing it with my family. Hunting is a passed down tradition for my family and friends. Throughout the world, millions of people participate in the spoils and adventure of the hunt. Hunting has been a pastime since the beginning of man. Hunting is one of those things either you like or you don’t like. It’s hard to explain the joys of hunting ,because it’s something one must experience for his self. Hunting does have laws and regulations you have to abide by. Are hunting regulations benefiting the hunter or the animal? This paper will discuss some of the regulations and laws, types of game, disadvantages of regulations, the pros of regulations, poachers, and ways to preserve wildlife and there habitat.
Hunting is a passion for millions of Americans across the United States and without it who knows what the current deer population would be. With the white tailed deer having few predators and a large habitat to thrive in it is important to keep the tradition of hunting going. Besides, the real problem Anti-hunters should be focusing on is the growth of cities and communities because they are what truly hurts the deer population. As long as deer hunting safety remains under control and the deer population stays in tacked, there should be no reason to end future hunts for Americans. To conclude, it is true that many people don’t believe in the ethics of hunting and that is alright, because regardless of how they feel hunting is here to stay for many years to
Like I said, hunting is one of the most important characteristics/traits to have in this world today. In almost every country, there is some type of way of hunting. In the U.S. we hunt other animals when it comes to hunting season. There are so many techniques and strategies that you can use when you are going hunting. It usually starts around September or sometime during the fall. But there are many things that you can do to start hunting. You have to watch out for the other hunters too. You may not be the only hunter, you can get hunted.
The topic of hunting has always been filled with controversy, excitement and trepidation for the environment. Both sides have varies ideas as to what is wrong and right. I realize that many people do not understand why people have to hunt or why people do hunt. One of the questions that kept coming to mind is why so many people are against hunting when their ancestors hunted and without hunting many of them would not be alive today. This question is relevant because many people are becoming to be worried that animals are in pain when being hunted and that it is unfair for people to hunt selfless animals with modern weaponry, and with many people going against the right to own guns.