The falloff could have far-reaching consequences beyond the beginning of the end for an American tradition, hunting enthusiasts say. With fewer hunters, there is less revenue for a multibillion-dollar industry and government conservation efforts.
“As paradoxical as it may seem, if hunting were to disappear, a large amount of the funding that goes to restore all sorts of wildlife habitat, game and nongame species alike, would disappear,” said Steve Sanetti, the president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Hunting generates billions in retail sales and pumps hundreds of millions of dollars into government conservation efforts annually through license sales and federal taxes on firearms and ammunition sales.
Interesting read. Turns out big-money hunting industry funnels money back into conservation efforts, and I guess that makes sense: hunting is a great way to convene with nature and then shoot at it.
Again, and for the hunting enthusiasts that will inevitably find this post and comment on it: I have no moral issue with hunting, it’s just not for me. I will say, though, that if people aren’t going to hunt anymore, then someone’s going to need to do something about the deer population eventually.
In my neck of the woods, there are deer — and dead deer — everywhere. A deer-on-car accident is a massive lose-lose. Messes up your car, quite possibly messes up you, and messes up the deer most of all. I see ’em off on the side of the road and it scares the hell out of me.
Tedquarters 
your on my list
I recently saw deer in Oyster Bay, which is a bit further than what typically constitutes deer country. Not a small one either, a trophy buck. They’re moving west it seems.
I don’t hunt, but my grandfather did and his rod and gun club and hunting enthusiast friends purchasing large swaths of property on which to hunt probably leads to a lot of indirect conservation, particularly with a dearth of natural predators in a lot of these regions.
“if people aren’t going to hunt anymore, then someone’s going to need to do something about the deer population eventually.”
Umm, how about wolves? Oh, wait, we shot all of them. So the only solution to a problem caused by hunting is… more hunting?
This video belongs with this article!
I dont have a problem with hunting in general, just certain reasonings for hunting.
I agree that in some cases it might be needed and that for some animals in certain areas its good for those populations, since in some cases to population of animals can grow so large that there is not enough food and the animals end up suffering anyway.
I also dont have any problem with people hunting if they are going to eat whatever they catch. Anyone who eats a hamburger or bacon really cant have a problem with that.
What I dont agree with is hunting for “sport”. You shot a deer or a bear from how darn far away with a shotgun? I’m supposed to be impressed by that? Hiding in a tree or bush and taking down an animal with a long range weapon to me is like punching an 8 year old child in the face and bragging about it. Its just not a fair fight.
You want to impress me with your stuffed bear? Take it down close range with a spear, like real hunters did hundred of years ago, then I’ll be impressed. Until then, your just a coward.
There are a lot of issues, to be sure, but outside of national parks people buying huge swaths of low priced property in areas like Pennsylvania, the Catskills, and similar bumblef***y sites across the country is the best chance we have at conservation. People are more likely to maintain their own property, particularly if it’s the source of their hobby. They’re not moving there with an eye on murdering every deer in sight and selling their pelts as a way to make Indians cry while paying their way along the Oregon Trail.
On a side note, remember Anthony Schlegel? He was my friend’s roommate at AFA before transferring to Ohio State and he played for the Jets. He goes on wild boar hunts with only a knife. That must be the kind of knife you pull out when you want to embarrass Crocodile Dundee. Anyway, I don’t think there’s any more noble way of hunting for sport. You’re really putting yourself out there.
Yea I would say a knife is ok, or any “hand tool” type of thing. I just dont see anything macho about killing an animal from 100 yards away. There is no accomplishment in that in my mind. You didnt even put yourself at risk.
Like I said, if you are hunting for food and plan to eat what you hunt, then I have no problems with weapons, because you are out for a purpose… to get food.
It’s not at all easy to hunt with a gun. I know this from all the years my father came home without a deer, putting my mom into a mood, because the freezer wasn’t going to get filled for (near) free.
Out of curiosity anyone ever eaten reasonably fresh deer meat? Is it good? I’ve had a venison burger and venison jerky and been underwhelmed.
I can’t offer a particularly erudite opinion, but if you don’t get any others:
I grew up eating maybe 1/4 venison and 3/4 beef, and I don’t know which dishes my mom made with one and which with the other. My grandma was a rancher, so in the aforementioned years in which we didn’t have a deer (probably the majority of years), we would buy a cow from Grandma and have it butchered. Is a deer butchered the same way, with some steaks, some stew meat, some ground, etc? I don’t know.
If I had to say, I’d say the venison was tougher, but that may just be my supposition. Or, it may be correct, because I think the cows went to a feed lot and were fed corn for a while before they went to the butcher. But I’m just supposing. My dad gave up the hunting effort by the time I was in my early teens, so my memories are vague.