The Many Benefits of Hunting

2170 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Hunting experience

When a Minnesota dentist killed a prized African lion named "Cecil" he received an onslaught of criticism and reignited the debate concerning hunting. To many people, hunting is a cruel and inhuman act. For others, hunting is a sport and a way of life. Is hunting ethical? Should hunting be allowed to continue? First off, what is hunting? According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, hunting is a “sport that involves the seeking, pursuing, and killing of wild animals and birds, called game and game birds, primarily in modern times with firearms but also with bow and arrow” (“hunting”). It is my firm belief that most hunting should most definitely be allowed to continue and they should also be supported.

My first reason for being pro-hunting is population control. Hunting is a legitimate and ethical method to stop wildlife populations from overpopulating and inevitably dying off. According to the Department of Natural Resources, “deer/vehicle accidents declined by more than fifty percent as a result of managed hunting programs in sections of Montgomery County, Virginia, and the United States” (Hotton). The anti-hunting group P.E.T.A proposes that there are alternate methods such as sterilization. According to an article by PETA, “if females are captured, marked, and counted, sterilization reduces herd size” (PETA). There are two methods of sterilization that may be used. The first method is surgical sterilization. The way this is done is by removing parts of the reproductive system. The problem is that “this method is extremely costly, ranging up to $1000 per deer” (“Deer Control”). The second method is the “ligation of the oviduct” (“Deer Control”). “This method is effective, but very expensive and puts a lot of stress ...

... middle of paper ...

...laughterhouse." PBS. PBS, 31 Mar. 2002. Web. 23 Feb. 2012.

PVCI. "PVCI." Bobcat. Web. 03 May 2012. .

Ramsey, P. S. "Poaching." Encyclopedia of Environmental Issues, Revised Edition. Ed. Craig W. Allin, 2nd ed. 3 vols. Salem Press, 2011. Salem Science Web. 06 Oct. 2011.

"Tradition." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 03 May 2012. .

Staff, CBS News. "Pink Slime in Ground Beef: What's the Big Deal?" CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 14 Mar. 2012. Web. 02 May 2012.

"Subsistence." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 02 May 2012. .

"Subsistence Hunting in a Global Economy." The Arctic and the Global Economy. Making Waves: A Newstetter for Community Economic Development [CED] Practitioners in Canada,vol 4, No 3. Web. 02 May 2012.

Show More
Related

  • The Pros And Cons Of Big Game Hunting

    914 Words  | 2 Pages

    In July of 2015, national treasure of Zimbabwe, Cecil the Lion was maliciously killed by dentist Walter Palmer. The hunt caused an uproar from many animal activists. The media covered the hunt and the aftermath for many weeks. This heartless act has many questioning why big game hunting is legal. Multiple African countries allow big game hunting, but it is harming the ecosystem. Many innocent, endangered animals are killed. Big game hunting should be banned because it lowers populations, causes further problems, and animal populations are already dropping.

    Read More

  • For Environmental Balance, Pick Up a Rifle, by Nicholas Kristof

    1241 Words  | 3 Pages

    I feel that while Kristof presents a valid argument in support of hunting deer for population control and provides accurate statistical data, he fails to include a strong support for any alternative methods, and in some cases omits information in attempt to manipulate his audience’s feelings about the issue.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Speech On Deer Hunting

    954 Words  | 2 Pages

    Specific Purpose: To convince my audience that it is good to be an active hunter in Alabama to prevent overpopulation.

    Read More

  • White Tailed Deer

    422 Words  | 1 Pages

    White tailed deer are the largest game animal in North America. This is due to their over abundance and annoyance to farmers. An average of 300000 deer are hunted down each year. A tragedy has been another 3000 are hit by cars every year. Many human efforts have been made to prevent these accidents, such as fencing and deer repellents near freeways, but many seem to think that hunting and controlling the population is the best way.

    Read More

  • Deer Overpopulation: A Persuasive Essay

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1989, there were 12,152 deer-vehicle accidents in the USA in which four people died and over 450 people were injured (7). What humans do not realize is the damage deer are causing to their environment, the human population, and themselves. Until a decision is reached regarding deer population control, the present state of overpopulation will continue to affect humans and the environment alike.

    Read More

  • Big Game Hunting Should be Allowed

    2020 Words  | 5 Pages

    When a Minnesota dentist killed a prized African lion named "Cecil" he received an onslaught of criticism and reignited the debate concerning big game hunting. Is big game hunting wrong? Should big game hunting continue? Big game hunting has been a very controversial topic for some time and these types of questions are being asked daily. There are a lot of people for it and a lot of people against it. This issue causes a lot of extreme behaviors and ideas by both sides. Those who oppose it believe it to be morally wrong, unfair to the animals and damaging to the environment. Those individuals for it believe that it is the citizens' rights and a way to be involved in the environment. Hunting is the law and shall not be infringed upon. In defense of the hunters' I believe that there are five main issues of concern.

    Read More

  • Deer Population

    830 Words  | 2 Pages

    The most popular form of deer control is hunting. Hunting is a helpful management tool for keeping deer from becoming overpopulated. When European settlers arrived, the deer were hunted for meat and hide without thinking of management. After 100 years, deer were threatened with extinction in N.C. Today deer populations are 1.25 million in NC. Hunting can help regulate this population if done correctly. (Hartiganand Osbourne). Hunting helps the deer population by decreasing the likelihood of overpopulation. Without hunting, deer would overpopulate an area and they would be forced to go elsewhere for food. This could lead to them wondering into cities and highways causing car accidents. Without some type of deer control, they multiply. Since deer have lost some land areas due to cities growing, they do not have enough food and start to slowly starve. Thus hunting is a good choice for deer management.

    Read More

  • The True Meaning of Hunting

    1987 Words  | 4 Pages

    3”Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. 4And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat… “(Genesis 27:3-4) People claim that hunting is an evil practice and it’s unnecessarily cruel to “defenseless”, “harmless” animals. What they don’t realize is that their opinions are not based off the Word of God but instead what they (as in humans) think is right. God gave us these delicious-tasting animals to enjoy as food respectfully, as opposed to killing them only for the thrill. I am going to be showing you the roots of hunting and why it is necessary today. And by the way, a wise man named Paul Rodriguez stated “Hunting is not a sport. In a sport, both sides should know they’re in the game (2012)”

    Read More

  • Hunting Helps the Environment

    913 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Deer Hunting

    1590 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the last decade, from the Rockies to New England and the Deep South, rural and suburban areas have been beset by white-tailed deer gnawing shrubbery and crops, spreading disease and causing hundreds of thousands of auto wrecks. But the deer problem has proved even more profound, biologists say. Fast-multiplying herds are altering the ecology of forests, stripping them of native vegetation and eliminating niches for other wildlife. ' 'I don 't want to paint deer as Eastern devils, ' ' said Dr. McShea, a wildlife biologist associated with the National Zoo in Washington, ' 'but this is indicative of what happens when an ecosystem is out of whack. ' ' The damage is worse than anyone expected, he and other scientists say. Higher deer densities have affected growth, survival, and reproduction of many plant species which have aesthetic, economic or ecological value. In some cases, many species of trees have also been shown to have reduced growth as a result of high deer density (Environmental Benefits of Hunting, 1). Deer prefer certain plant species over others and frequently feed on economically valuable tree species. For example, they prefer oak and sugar maple seedlings, as well as acorns, over less palatable species like American Beech and striped maple. Thus, less marketable species are more likely to survive to maturity,

    Read More

  • Trophy Hunting Persuasive Essay

    1740 Words  | 4 Pages

    Flocken endorses that “...hunters are not like natural predators.They target the largest specimens; with the biggest tusks, manes, antlers, or horns.” In Defense of Animals International (IDA) argues that hunters concentrate on“game” populations and ignore “non-game” species that may lead to overpopulation and unequal ecosystems. Therefore, it affects their ecosystem, and the animals’ families. Overall, the evidence proves trophy hunting hurts the environment, specifically conservation. Therefore, the hunters’ idea that trophy hunting actually helps conservation by killing some predators to maintain balance, is merely

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay: The Need For Deer Hunting

    2063 Words  | 5 Pages

    Years ago, killing animals for food was part of the average man’s everyday life. While, now a days, hunting is questioned by many across the world because it is commonly viewed as a recreational activity. Many residents have a problem with the dangers that come with hunting. Not to mention, as time goes on, society seems to feel differently about animals and how they should be treated. One of the biggest debates is the harvest of white tailed deer. All over the United States, white tailed deer thrive because of the few predators that feast upon them and the large forests and habitats that these deer can flourish in. However, as buildings and subdivisions pop up left and right decreasing the white tailed deer natural habitat, the debate grows stronger. The heart of the debate is centered around ethical issues, human and deer conflicts, safety, and the benefits hunting has on the economy.

    Read More

  • Why Is Hunting Important Essay

    1122 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the perspective of economy, ecology, and environmental conservation, hunting is very important. Hunting is necessary to protect agriculture and the environment from animal pest or overpopulation. For example, wild boars tear up many farmers land causing many problems as well with the deer population growing eating away farmer’s resources. Also with the growth of white tail deer are damaging every landscape east of the Mississippi river. Unfortunately, the harm is very overlooked, and accepted as somehow “natural”. Over the last 30 years higher dear populations have made a more negative impact due to climate change. (“Is Hunting a Good Thing?”) Hunting was legalized in 1993 to help bring overabundant wild animal populations down. The legalization

    Read More

  • Does Hunting Help or Hurt the Environment

    1401 Words  | 3 Pages

    Those who oppose hunting as it stands today, please step forward. The question whether if hunting is helping or hurting our environment has been an ongoing yet debatable issue for a little while now. A variety of arguments have been made about this issue. It is definitely a big issue because it concerns the well-being of many different people nationwide. Mainly it raises attention to the moral and economic questions, as well as the pros and cons, dealing with the way we utilize our native wildlife.

    Read More

  • Why People Should Not Hunt Research Paper

    1460 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

More about The Many Benefits of Hunting

Open Document