It’s a notion held by some that hunting is an unnecessary and unethical way to spend time in nature, and though we support everyone’s journey to forming their own opinions, we want to highlight some positive realities of how hunting works in the ongoing story of wildlife conservation. Below, check out some key points formed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the world’s largest conservation organization, on how wildlife conservation can benefit from hunting.
Incentivizes Landowners to Look Out for Wildlife. The benefits from having sustainable hunting of wildlife on lands, both public and private, can make conservation of animals and their habitat more enticing for landowners. With enough visibility and engagement, landowners may feel more compelled to make decisions about their land that benefit the animals that call it home, such as reducing livestock grazing to restore areas, increasing wildlife monitoring to lookout for possible issues and even establishing anti-poaching efforts on their land or land they help manage.
Generates Revenue for Conservation Efforts. In many parts of the world, including for US state wildlife agencies, a major source of funding for wildlife management comes from hunters. Large portions of revenue from purchased licenses or taxes on hunting gear given back to the state wildlife agencies help to fund their conservation efforts. Abroad, communal conservancies and private landowners fund their conservation work by allocating revenue from hunting opportunities paid for by private individuals. This money also goes toward paying local game wardens and rangers on the land, whose increased presence can decrease poaching incidents.
Decreases Retaliatory Killing to Better Protect Wild Animals. In many areas, wildlife can cause trouble for human livelihoods through damage to crops, livestock and even human injuries or death. An institution of legal and ethical wildlife hunting in these areas and the benefits it provides can decrease retaliatory killing of animals in response to damages caused and protect the best interests of wild animals and their human neighbors.
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