| North American hunting predates the United | | | | stamp" from the Fish and Wildlife Service, which is |
| States by thousands of years, and was an | | | | similar in concept to a tag. |
| important part of Native American cultures. Native | | | | Taking of animals other than big game is |
| Americans retain some hunting rights and are | | | | restricted by a "bag limit" and a "possession limit." |
| exempt from some laws as part of Indian | | | | A bag limit is a maximum number of a specific |
| treaties. | | | | animal that an individual can harvest in a single day. |
| Regulation of hunting is primarily regulated by | | | | A possession limit is a maximum number of a |
| state law. Regulations vary widely from state to | | | | specific animal species that can be in an individual's |
| state as to which specific game animals may be | | | | possession at any time. |
| hunted. Some states make a distinction between | | | | Guns used in hunting are also regulated. |
| protected species and unprotected species for | | | | Regulations for big game hunting often specify a |
| which there are no hunting regulations. Hunters of | | | | minimum caliber for firearms. The use of rifles is |
| protected species require a hunting license in all | | | | often banned for safety reasons in areas with |
| states, for which completion of a hunting safety | | | | high population density. Specific seasons for bow |
| course is sometimes required. | | | | hunting or muzzle-loading black powder guns are |
| Game animals are divided into several categories | | | | often established to limit competition with hunters |
| for regulatory purposes. Typical categories are as | | | | using more effective firearms. |
| follows: | | | | Hunting in the United States is not associated with |
| Big game: White-tailed deer, Mule Deer, moose, | | | | any particular group. In fact, most Americans |
| elk, reindeer (caribou), bear, bighorn sheep, as well | | | | support legal hunting, but relatively few Americans |
| as exotic species often found in canned hunts. | | | | actually hunt. At the beginning of the 21st century |
| Small Game: cottontail rabbit, eastern gray | | | | less than 10% of the population actually hunted. |
| squirrel.Furbearers: red fox, mink. Predators: | | | | Regulation of hunting within the United States |
| Cougar (mountain lion/panther), coyote. Upland | | | | dates from the 19th century. Local hunting clubs |
| game bird: grouse, chukar, pheasant, Bobwhite | | | | and national organizations provide hunter education |
| Quail, dove. Waterfowl: duck, Canada goose. | | | | and help protect the future of the sport by |
| Hunting big game most often requires a "tag" for | | | | buying land for future hunting use. |
| each animal harvested. Tags must be purchased | | | | Each year millions of dollars in federal excise taxes |
| in addition to the hunting license, and the number | | | | are distributed to state agencies to support |
| of tags issued to an individual is limited. In cases | | | | wildlife management programs. A key task of |
| where there are more hunters than the quota for | | | | Federal and state park rangers and game |
| that animal, tags are usually assigned by lottery. | | | | wardens is to enforce laws and regulations related |
| Tags may be further restricted to a certain area. | | | | to hunting, including species protection, hunting |
| Hunting migratory waterfowl requires a "duck | | | | seasons, and hunting bans. |