| Hunting has been around with us since the | | | | and another 1.5 million hunt other unusual |
| earliest days of man because, hey, you had to | | | | game such as raccoons and woodchucks. |
| eat. These days, it is still done to put food | | | | |
| on the table, but is also a popular sport. | | | | One hunting tidbit that cannot escape mention |
| | | | is the wide spread opposition to it by a |
| It is estimated that some 77 million | | | | large percentage of the non-hunting |
| Americans, 16 years of age and older | | | | population. No other sport is the target of |
| participate in hunting, fishing, or wildlife | | | | such an organized and emotional campaign to |
| observation activities. This figure would | | | | abolish it. The opponents of hunting refuse |
| represent about 38% of the population in that | | | | to accept any type of argument about the |
| age bracket. Any look at hunting statistics | | | | wildlife management aspects of hunting or of |
| quickly reveals the popularity of the sport | | | | its close regulation. They flatly oppose it |
| and its economic impact on the country. This | | | | and are unwilling to listen to any type of |
| 38% of people who enjoy the outdoor sports | | | | reason. |
| spend over $100 billion dollar annually on | | | | |
| their activities. | | | | It is necessary for those who love hunting to |
| | | | be aware of this challenge to the enjoyment |
| Hunting accounts for a large portion of the | | | | of their sport. Hunters must be as vocal and |
| outdoor activity expenditure. It is estimated | | | | as organized as their opponents in protecting |
| that at least $5.2 billion dollars is spent | | | | their right to hunt. The opposition is not |
| annually on hunting trips alone. Another | | | | content with verbal and written debate, but |
| $11.8 billion dollars is spent on hunting | | | | seeks to influence the passing of laws |
| related equipment. $4.8 billion dollars is | | | | restricting the right to hunt. Too often the |
| spent on hunting permits, licenses, and game | | | | hunting community is satisfied to let |
| stamps. This last figure provides funds for | | | | anti-hunting types have their own opinions, |
| the management of wildlife areas and national | | | | but when it comes to the legal restrictions, |
| forests. | | | | the community must make a stand to defend |
| | | | hunting. Hunting is more than a sport or |
| The hunting of deer, bear, elk, and other big | | | | hobby. It is an activity that connects us to |
| game is the most popular form of hunting. At | | | | our very roots as human beings. The skills of |
| least 11.3 million hunters go after these | | | | the hunter were passed from father to son for |
| targets. Small game like squirrels and | | | | countless generations since the dawn of time. |
| rabbits attracts another 6.9 million hunters. | | | | It would be wrong to see this tradition made |
| 3.1 million hunters pursue migratory birds | | | | illegal in our time. |