History of Big Game Hunting - Sport Or Survival?

The history of big game hunting is as old, or older,conservation programs and limiting permits and
than man. Depending on your beliefs, big gamelicenses have worked to prevent elimination of
hunting technically can go back to pre-man animalssome big game species. Part of the history of big
who hunt each other. For this discussion,game hunting is the conservation efforts that
however, we will limit to man.continue today. It is this and sportsmanship, and
In man's history, hunting was essential to survival.tough poaching laws that have maintained the
Even after the skills of farming and cultivationability of man continuing to do big game hunts as
were spread, man continued to hunt meat. Astime passes.
time went on, man's hunting expanded to sport,Modern big game management began in 1922 with
for skin, and trophy heads. And, somethe establishment in New York of the National
unscrupulous hunters ignored laws and poachedCollection of Heads and Horns, located in the
certain animals, which almost led to exterminationBronx Zoo. This was followed in the next decades
of some species.by other conservation and record keeping
Today, big game hunting is an extremely popularassociations. The 13th edition of the book
sport. It requires licenses or permits in most"Records of North American Big Game" will be
areas, and big game definition varies slightly withpublished in 2011. Records are based on a scoring
geographical areas. However, the general range ofsystem of points for each type of animal.
big game includes the following animals:In the U.S., different states have different
Deer, Mule Deer, Coues Deer - and other varietiesseasons for hunting, depending on the animals
Bear - various varietieshunted, and mating seasons and birthing times. In
Antelopeother countries, they have their own sets of laws
Buffalofor big game hunting. Africa is noted for large
Musk Oxspecies, and fierce animals such as the lion, which
Water Buffalois carefully protected and hunting is limited. When
Lionthere is a limited availability of licenses or permits,
Mountain Lion, Cougarcompetition and prices are high. For example, an
Big Horn Sheep - and other varietiesout of state hunting license for bull buffalo in
BoarArizona can run over $5400 for the permit.
ElephantThe high prices tend to restrict big game hunting
Moose - various varietiesto those persons having an amount of time and
Elk - various varietieswealth, although many ordinary people will hunt
Wolfsmaller game like deer, which are more plentiful
Hippopotamusand have more permits.
RhinocerosThe history of big game hunting will continue to
Elephantrecord trophy animal hunting as long as
Leopardconservation and protection efforts continue. This
Caribouwill allow big game hunting to be a pleasure for
Rocky Mountain Goatmany hunters, and a goal for others to strive to
Big game animals have not been without threatsdo at a future time.
of extinction, from overkill, and because of this