Why Hunting is Actually Good for the Environment
A lot of people disagree with hunting as a form of outdoor recreation. It’s tough to support a sport that involves the killing of animals. Why should we allow people to kill cute animals that supposedly help the environment, for fun? In October of 2019, a video surfaced on the internet showing an angry father and son harassing a deer hunter because they believed that hunting was bad. This video was frustrating to watch because it’s clear to see that they didn’t understand the benefits of hunting. I’m here to tell you that hunting is actually a great thing for our parks and wildlife, and it’s important that people are educated on the benefits of this controversial form of outdoor recreation.
One reason why hunting can be good, is through the removal of invasive species. According to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) website, “Invasive species damage Colorado’s lands and waters, hurt the economy, ruin recreational opportunities, result in a loss of property values and threaten public health. They consume enormous amounts of water reducing the supply for livestock, wildlife, and humans.” The CPW website also explains that Colorado is home to the invasive species of Eurasion collared-doves, who have the possibility of taking over the habitats of Colorado’s native species. CPW says, “To manage populations, Colorado had named ECDs an invasive species and has put in place a year-round hunting season, coupled with unlimited bag/possession limits.”
One location used for dove hunting in Northern Colorado is Wellington, a state wildlife area. Tomas Gyarfas, a beginner hunter in Fort Collins, has recently begun to go to Wellington to hunt doves. Regarding his intentions of taking up the sport of hunting, he says, “I hunt because it would feel great to feed myself, friends, and family in a traditional matter, with a fair chance of flight from the animal I am hunting. A great motivation to hunt is also its initiative to fund and support wildlife management in the U.S.”
Another benefit of hunting as a form of outdoor recreation is that the money that hunters spend on the sport is used for conservation. The article “Where Does Your Hunting and Fishing License Money Go?” by David Smith, states that the Pittman-Robertson act (hunting equipment) and Dingell-Johnson act (fishing equipment) make it so that taxes on hunting and fishing equipment is used by the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Wildlife agencies for conservation purposes. These conservation purposes include habitat restoration and protection, and research/education. Smith’s article also says, “Hunting and fishing license sales make up the largest portion of sportsmen’s contributions to state fish and wildlife agencies. The revenue generated by license sales, including trapping licenses equates to more than $1 billion a year nationally. One hundred percent of license fees go directly toward conservation and restoration.”
