A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers but borrowed from his children.
-John James Audubon
(If you want to do more for our hunting rights, go here: www.howlforwildlife.org )
Hunting is that great tradition which connects humanity to its creation. It binds us to the food we eat, our ancient progenitors, and those great sovereigns Life and Death. Each generation before us has preserved this heritage for the next. Our generation of hunters now wear the mantle of guardianship.
Today’s hunters find our storied heritage is under a ferocious attack by individuals who have lost their tie to the rhythms of nature. While we cling tightly to those aspects of our hunting faction, our nemesis takes a scythe to the fringe hunting rights we don’t value. String by string our inheritance is being unraveled. Eventually, the next generation will be left with dusty weapons hanging on their walls and their thoughts lingering on our past mounted triumphs.
Over the last decade there has been an increased attack on hunting rights. In 2021, Washington State hunters lost their right to hunt Spring bears. In early 2022 we saw a heard of elk lose 80% of their calves with collars to predators. These issues span across many states. New Jersey saw their bear rights disappear recently as well. Trappers and Houndsmen have been facing a relentless attack for years as the hunting community stood by and watched it happen. “We don’t trap or hunt with dogs. It doesn’t matter to us,” is a tired refrain that has greatly injured our community.
For now, the loss of hunting with dogs has only affected cougar and bear hunters. Could waterfowl hunters be affected next? I wouldn’t be surprised if it does. Don’t believe me? Take a look at Oregon State’s proposal: “The Abuse, Neglect, and Assault Exemption Modification and Improvement Act (the “Act”)” This Act would make it illegal to kill any animals, except for cases of self-defense. The egregious bill will make any kind of pet ownership and husbandry illegal. Say goodbye to ranching. Despite what many may think, the attack on bear hunting rights is very beginning to a disastrous end.
The anti-hunting community’s goal is to abolish hunting. We have seen 10 states ban various forms of trapping throughout the US. Oregon’s proposed IP 13 bill highlights what they want to happen. This is their end goal. They are trying to ban all hunting, fishing, and ranching. Our hunting dystopian future is their paradise. Just like gun rights, they are whittling at the edges of our traditions until we are left sitting on our couches watching old hunting videos. Meanwhile, predators will run rampant across the landscape demolishing prey animals.
Taking predators is a vital part of the North American Model for Conservation. Predators wreak havoc on ungulate populations and will ultimately destroy decades worth of work to preserve wildlife and ecosystems. There are groups of people who ignorantly believe that if we remove all hunting, nature will balance itself out. The fallacy of this argument is that humans have altered nature beyond balance. Cities have grown and expanded to a point that wildlife is being pushed into smaller and smaller ranges. Our population continues to grow and expand across the landscape. This means that prey animals cannot range beyond populations of predators, and they’re encountering each other more frequently. We have a duty as hunters to conserve our resources and protect our rights beyond the taxes we pay.
The Pittman-Robertson Act has and continues to be hunters’ biggest claim to protecting our hunting traditions and the environment. The money we spend has brought more animals from the brink of extinction then any other entity. When we buy ammo, guns, or hunting equipment we fund the conservation of our animals and landscapes. Our gear junkies, especially, make a huge impact on preserving wildlife. Show them love.
A lot of hunters proudly brag about our contribution to conservation. Sadly, the money we spend is no longer enough. We need to make our voices heard by filling out surveys from the Wildlife departments, attend town halls on hunting rights, and write our politicians. Howl For Wildlife can help you facilitate this. We need to be louder than our adversaries, such as PETA. Hunters have a responsibility to portray our activities in best light on social media, in the news, and in face-to-face interactions. The fight isn’t to convince PETA to leave us alone. The fight is to bring the majority moderates to our side. To help them see we are ethical, respect our prey, and honor the land we take them from. The advocates against hunting have banded together in a united front to end hunting. They are organized, determined, and active. These are their strengths, yet they lack one thing. They do not represent that majority of Americans.
The problem with our community is its fractured nature. Hunters belittle and bicker with each other over weapon types, ethical shot distances, and size of antlers. We find reasons to discount other forms of hunting that don’t match our own. Trad bow hunters say that compound hunters take the easy way out. Both say that crossbow hunters don’t count. While rifle hunters say that archers are not ethical in using a less effective weapon. Don’t get me started on hunting over bait. The merry-go-round goes round and round with no end in sight. It is more than enough that we tear each other down, but we also hurt our individual selves. A friend of mine pointed out to me that it is really aggravating when guys diminish their kill by posting on social media commenting, “It’s not that big.” Now it really gets under my skin too every time I see it. If it is big enough in the moment, be proud of your animal. Be proud for each of our members who take animals ethically. More than ever, hunters must band together to protect our traditions and rights.
If you genuinely care about your rights and traditions as a hunter, put aside your disputes with other hunters. Be active in your community. Write your politicians. Portray hunting in healthy light on social media and in face-to-face conversations. If you do not know where to get started, go to www.howlforwildlife.org . You can lend your voice to many hunting issues across your states and our nation. There are also some pretty cool perks, swag, and discounts that come from joining Howl For Wildlife.
The American Bowman
Travis Tweet
The American Bowman Chronicles 