Hunting should be allowed Essay Example for Free

Hunting should be allowed Essay Hunting is beneficial to our society and therefore should be allowed. Historically human beings have been pursuing wild animals to provide their families with food, clothing, and shelter. In modern times the need for hunting for survival has lessened because of the development of animal husbandry and agriculture. There were times in history worldwide when hunting became profitable and hunters began killing animals for their fur, skins, and meat. Then it became necessary to put regulations in to effect to preserve wildlife as well as to somewhat appease the critics who felt hunting should be illegal. Three main reasons why hunting should be allowed is to regulate the amount of wild animals, so that areas do not become over populated by them. Another reason is that hunting is a major money making industry. The third main reason is that hunting for sport of food is an exciting and educational experience for hunters of all ages. In John Clare’s poem â€Å"The Badger† we see hunting at its worst and a major turnoff due to the unethical and cruel nature of the townspeople engaged in the hunt. Poems like these motivate people to be anti-hunting but if we look closely at the benefits of hunting it overrides such negativity and we can plainly see the benefits. Hunting if done responsibly should be allowed. It is a great privilege to have and is regulated by the government. Some of the steps put in place is the requirement to pass a hunter education course before hunting, this protects people. There are also laws that set hunting season dates to protect wildlife. Most states grant their wildlife agencies the authority to manage wildlife population using regulations. Regulations are generally easier to change and better suit the dynamic nature of wildlife management. For example, if a drought caused many a deer to die, the wildlife agency would be able to change its regulations by reducing the number of permits and protecting the deer population. If the situation was reversed a sudden increase in the deer population was observed then the wildlife agency can change its regulations, increasing the number of permits and providing more opportunity for hunting. Many benefits come from hunting not only to the hunter, but also to society. Without the hunter, many breeds of animals would become overpopulated and die off from lack of food due to excess in their numbers and lower percentage of food per herd. Not only would there be too many animals, but it would greatly increase the chance of disease and inner-herd killings. Nature decrees the survival of the fittest, those that are weak and old will be the first attacked, even by their own kind. Hunting also brings benefit to humans through the control of the wildlife and the predatory animals that would invade neighborhoods when overpopulation occurs. These dangerous animals are wolves, bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats. Hunting wildlife keeps disease among wildlife at a lower rate and ensures better survival. Hunters also donate millions of dollars each year from hunting license and stamp fees that buy thousands of acres of open land, natural habitat, and wetlands that forever preserve them for wildlife use each year. Individuals who are against hunting do not spend any money on this. Hunting is a major money maker for the government as well as private establishments. The average hunter spends quite a reasonable amount of money on his hunting trips. These hunting trips approximately last for about seven to twelve days on average. The taxes on the hunting licenses increase every year adding to the expense and putting money in to government coffers. Hunters also buy equipment. This helps private businesses and retailers. Hunting offers benefits to the hunter in the form of a sport, not only for food but it is a relaxing, exciting and an educational experience for hunters of all ages. There are the benefits of education, by studying the animals the hunter will learn how they relate amongst themselves, their patterns for breeding, migration, and their tendencies of behavior. The hunter will not only benefit by this knowledge within his hunt but also will know what animals to pursue when hunting. Ill or deformed animals often give the hunter a sense of empathy when hunting. These animals may not live very long and possibly spread its disease to the other animals. Sport hunting should not be banned when examining information from this angle as it affects us all in general. Hunting also provides excitement and a close connection with nature. While hunting, the hunter often connects with nature while sitting in silence. He has the opportunity to observe his surrounding and become familiar with his hunting ground. Knowing the plant life and growth rate of the area crops is very important part to being a good hunter. This knowledge comes through conservation of the land being managed for hunting. Through this land management, the plant and animal life become more abundant. Hunting should be allowed and protesters should make the effort to become more knowledge about the benefits of hunting. There are many environmental benefits to society and to wildlife. The health of the animals is important to hunters as they reproduce and replenish there will be ongoing game for hunting. Hunting is a privilege and privileges require responsibility. Citizens must meet certain standards. The greatest threat to hunting in North America is not anti-hunters. It is the negative hunter image created by poor hunter behavior in the field. Our actions when we are not hunting may also give hunters a poor image. For example, bragging about the animals killed or wearing dirty hunting clothes in public gives all hunters a poor image. Support from non-hunters decreases when hunters act unsafe or unethically in the field. An example of this can be seen in John Clare’s poem, â€Å"The Badger† The main subject of this poem is the relationship of the wild animal to the hunters who bait and tame it. The townspeople act unethically to the badger while hunting it. The badger-baiters are a poor example of what hunting should be and their sadistic behavior is one reason why many anti-hunters are so against hunting and do not want it to be allowed. They literally torture a vulnerable creature and he is pitched against cudgel wielding, stone throwing townspeople and ferocious dogs. â€Å"The Badger† is a weaker adversary and when he runs toward the woods and freedom, the townspeople turn him back with clubs. When the badger finally lies beaten and helpless, he is continuously kicked and torn by the savage mob. Moreover, the last stanza about the badger is yet another example of human tyranny over less fortunate creatures, which is most anti-hunter’s perception of what hunting is really like namely the abuse of the powerless by the powerful. The townspeople are capturing and confining the badger for the sport of it, to get their fun at his expense and at the end of it all â€Å"till kicked and torn and beaten out, he lies and leaves his hold and cackles, grows and dies. † (39-40) This poem is not a clear depiction of what hunting is about in today’s regulated society. There has never been a case in modern times where a regulated hunting season has driven any animal to the point of being endangered or tortured and treated cruelly it is only when there is no regulation where this type of issue occurs. Hunting can strengthen game animals by trimming the population and preventing overpopulation that can destroy the environment and cause lack of food. Not only is overpopulation of animals a great inconvenience to humans it can be downright dangerous. Hunting provides much financial aid to our government and to many who hunt it is a relaxing, exciting and an educational experience. With all the negative press from anti-hunters, the benefits cannot be denied and with the significant rules in place to ensure good hunting, if adhered to then most definitely hunting should be allowed. Works Cited Kruuk, H. Hunter and Hunted: Relationships between Carnivores and People Cambridge, UK, New York, NY Cambridge University Press, 2002 Sunstein, Cass R. ; Nussbaum, Martha Craven Animal Rights: Current Debates and New Directions Oxford, New York Oxford University Press (US), 2004. Clare, John. â€Å"The Badger. † Making Literature Matter; An Anthology for Readers and Writers. 3rd ed. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. Boston; Bedford, 2006. 913-915.