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Hunters Are First For Whitetails

Hunting is becoming more popular across the country. More people are realizing that hunting is not only beneficial for wildlife, but for humanity as well. People are realizing that: hunting is a great method for obtaining food, venison is a healthy low-cholesterol meat and that they can have fun while in the field hunting.

What many people do not realize is that hunters and whitetails have an unspoken working relationship? I must be crazy for saying that right? Well, let’s look at a few things before saying that just yet. Hunters are whitetails number one supporter. Here’s the proof.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, sportsmen give nearly $8 million every day and $2.9 billion every year. Most of this money is derived through hunting license sales and donations. Hunters care about wildlife.

Furthermore, in the last 80 years, hunters have paid over $14 billion for “on-the-ground” projects. This has occurred in all 50 states. This has directly affected wildlife in a positive way so that populations are much higher today than during the 20th century.

Whitetails are among the best examples to prove this. In 1900 less than 500,000 deer roamed the United States. According to the Quality Deer Management Association, today there are over 32 million whitetails. This has been a result of good management practices and conservation projects funded by hunters.

Pictured here is Phillip Vanderpool with a whitetail he killed with a compound bow.

Hunters care about wildlife. And that is why they are the leading advocate for whitetails’ health and well-being. Many out there would like to be able to say otherwise. But the simple truth is that hunters are first for wildlife. Hunters are first for whitetails.

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Hunting Is Good

Hunting has come a long way in the last few decades. Hunter numbers have increased exponentially and the sport is becoming more popular as a whole. People are finally starting to see the value of quality deer management and how it affects humans’ safety and whitetails’ health alike.

Here the author of the blog, Bucks In The ‘Burbs, takes aim with his compound bow. Photo by Chantal Honeycutt

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s most recent survey, approximately 12.5 million people ages 16 and older hunted in 2006. Simply put, hunting is cool now. Hunting allows us to effectively manage whitetail populations. It also helps to prevent vehicle collisions, malnutrition, starvation, disease and overpopulation.

People are also learning that hunting in urban areas can be just as productive as in rural areas. Whitetails are realizing they don’t receive as much hunting pressure near urbanized areas and thus inhabit such locations. Hunters are now taking advantage of this new style of hunting. Those who do are helping to create a new breed of hunter.

For those interested in learning more about urban hunting tactics, visit this page on tactical approaches for urban bowhunting.

Multiple states are also taking to “urban hunts” where hunters are allowed to hunt in certain areas that lie within the city limits. Others have yet to incorporate this management practice. Most cities allow bowhunting within city limits. This video on whitetails in suburbia comes from CBC News.

Hunting is a necessity for both healthy wildlife populations and a healthy society. It allows for effective game management. And it makes our roadways safer to travel. Hunting is necessary. Hunting is appropriate. Hunting is good.