1. Environmental concern -
Hunting-oriented "game management" is ecologically
destructive. Outdated conservation strategy based on pre-ecological
thought and faulty science, most conceived over 70 years ago, is still
practiced by all state and federal game agencies. Backed by influential
hunting groups such as "Ducks Unlimited", hunter-controlled wildlife
agencies manipulate ecosystems and wildlife habitat for increased hunter
success, while boosting hunting license sale revenues which support their
salaries.
In a world desperately trying to understand and heal an
increasingly endangered global biosphere, disruptive alterations of the
environment intended to stimulate ever greater populations of target
animals such as deer is not only bad science, but plain stupidity.
2. Biological degradation -
Employing biologically perverse methods of manipulating
deer populations, skewing natural sex ratios of deer (killing mostly
bucks) to propagate larger fawn "crops", and genetic breeding to grow
larger antlered "trophy" bucks, degrades genetic integrity of hunted
species. Hunting leaves smaller and weaker individuals to reproduce and
carry on species' vitality, ie., growing numbers of "spike" bucks. Hunting
works against the laws of nature and contrary to natural selection by
constantly removing prime individuals from a species population. Modern
hunting has been called "Evolution in Reverse."
3. Hunting is cruel -
Sport hunting causes immense suffering to individual wild
animals and their species. It is gratuitously cruel because unlike natural
predation hunters kill for pleasure and other sadistic "kicks." There is
no justification for its' existence in a civilized world.
4. Reverence for life -
Sadly, our planet is becoming a much more violent place in
which to live, for humans and non-humans alike. Sport hunting is morally
indefensible because there is no justification for killing sentient beings
in the name of recreation. People who teach their children that it is
acceptable to maim and kill animals for fun are exacerbating the growing
disrespect for all life that currently plagues humanity. Psychological and
sociological studies demonstrate a direct correlation between animal
cruelty by young people and antisocial and criminal behavior later in
life. This is not a trend society can afford to tolerate.
5. Safety -
Hunting accidents injure and kill thousands of people and
companion animals each year. Though accurate records aren't kept by over
stretched and disinterested Game Agencies, non-government animal
protection organizations (NGO's) are inundated by complaints from fearful
and outraged citizens whose pets, homes, properties, livestock, and family
members are shot at and killed by reckless and irresponsible hunters.
The fact is Game Agencies work to place millions of
trigger-happy hunters into the public domain while they openly admit to
shrinking agency budgets which cannot provide for adequate policing for
public safety. How long would society tolerate any other sporting
activity, such as football or bowling, if it caused such carnage and loss?
6. Constitutional issue -
The Supreme Court of the U.S. declared wildlife a
"National treasure held in trust for all citizens". Currently, wildlife
agencies manage wildlife and its habitat primarily for the benefit of a
small minority known as sport hunters, in violation of that Supreme Court
ruling. This is unconstitutional.
Hunter domination over councils of wildlife management
must be replaced by democratic representation for the 95% non-hunting
public to prevent the continued abuse of government power.
7. The Ecosystem Reserve concept -
Whereas wildlife is managed primarily for recreational
hunting and the enhancement of yields, in sharp contrast the ecosystem
approach intentionally preserves biological diversity, rather than doing
so incidental to maximizing one or a few kinds of organisms for hunting.
Concerned citizens must demand their state Game Agencies implement
Ecosystem Reserves instead of public deer ranching on "Wildlife Management
Units." This reform would ensure the preservation of the broadest degree
of life-sustaining biodiversity.
8. Conservation -
Conservation means "the deliberate, planned guarding and
protecting of something precious such as wildlife and our environment." In
fact, hunters' license fees are used to manipulate a comparatively few
game species into overpopulation at the expense of a much larger number of
non-game species, which includes the extermination of natural predators.
This contributes to the loss of biological diversity, genetic integrity
and ecological balance of wildlife. Hunters' licenses pay for
environmental degradation and not conservation as is claimed.
9. Looting taxpayer dollars -
Millions of dollars of general tax revenues are allocated
to the budgets of state Wildlife Divisions ostensibly to subsidize
wildlife "conservation" programs. In the state of Virginia, political
hunting pressure has influenced the legislature to impose a 2% sales tax
on the purchase of a variety of outdoor goods, including equipment for
popular non-hunting activities such as wildlife viewing, backpacking, and
other non-consumptive sporting activities. The financial resources are not
dedicated to environmental programs or preserving endangered species. Our
scarce public dollars are quietly without public knowledge being diverted
into traditional hunting programs.
Additionally, State Fish and Game Agencies administer game
programs on tens of millions of acres of military land and hundreds of
millions of acres of public land and national forests. Virtually all of
this land was purchased with general funds, while taxpayers also
contribute substantially to the annual administration costs. Most of this
land is open to hunting, as are most of our National Wildlife Refuges.
Although the vast majority of taxpayers do not hunt and
lack a propaganda apparatus to announce their contributions, they
certainly do "pay the tab for wildlife conservation." The question is, why
should taxpayers pay the tab for hunter welfare programs?
10. "Taking Back The Woods"!
A strong case needs to be made today by the 95% majority
of Americans who do not hunt that sport hunting and wildlife management
for that purpose is an unacceptable abuse of animals and our environment.
People who have in the past quietly tolerated the annual war against
wildlife waged in their communities have begun to question its legitimacy
and acceptability in modern life. Many are experiencing rising levels of
distaste for the horrendous cruelty and suffering inherent in the blood
sports.
The first step towards reclaiming the woods is to
challenge hunting programs that are dangerously inconsistent with modern
realities and ethics. Biologically degrading hunts that clearly cater to
trophy seeking hunters, such as killing threatened wolves, bears, and
swans, do not reflect the will or environmental concerns of the majority
and should be strongly opposed. Writing letters opposing hunting to the
editors of local and national newspapers is a very effective way of
raising awareness. Holding lawful demonstrations, even by small groups,
against local or regional hunts, generally elevates the issue to high
profile and draws helpful publicity.
Taking any initial step on behalf of wildlife and the
earth, for any one or all of the above reasons, is an important and
courageous act. And don't forget, hunters do not own wildlife or the
environment, they are only taking advantage of a state sanctioned
privilege. And like all privileges, when abused they should be taken away
Go on to ACT - Animal
Concerns of Texas
Return to 23 January 2005 Issue
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