Hunters and Helpers: The Conservation Efforts of Hunting and Fishing Organizations
In my post on litterbug hunters, I pointed out some of the environmentally unfriendly and irresponsible actions of this group who uses nature for recreation, sustenance, or other personal reasons. In this post, however, I want to explore the other side of the issue–and thus to highlight the ways that environmentalists and hunters can come together.
While it might be easy to stereotype hunters and fishers as “predators” of both animals and environmental quality, some organizations and many individual hunters are in fact energetic stewards of wildlife and natural habitats. That is, they are “green” even if they (or other ideologues) shun that label.
Ducks Unlimited is one of the largest and most famous hunting organizations that works for conservation. Indeed, it was founded in 1937 by duck hunters because of their concern over the loss of wetlands. Since ducks require wetlands (and other ecosystems), and duck hunters require ducks, Ducks Unlimited has advocated for wetland preservation and taken measures to fight further losses.
But other, lesser known organizations are making equally significant positive impacts on the environment. For example, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), founded in 1973, provides information on habitat preservation to landowners, encourages conservation easements in order to protect turkey habitats (and hunting grounds), and even helps landowners create turkey-friendly environments, among other things. Their Habitat Conservation Program in particular aims to help private and corporate landowners, as well as wildlife agencies, preserve habitat…as well as supporting hunting.
