For decades, if there is one thing that has been prevalent on the face of the earth, then that is hunting. Man keeps looking for prey to kill as a form of food and a medium of enjoyment and sport. From Africa to India, this has been the norm, and perhaps this would’ve only led to a major calamity such as extinction if conservation laws weren’t there, to begin with.
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Why are there game conservation laws in the first place?
This article aims to explore how do game conservation laws affect hunters. However, to remain successful in this endeavor, we must first analyze why game conservation laws exist.
The primary reason here is to prevent overhunting. There have been extinctions such as the White Rhinosaurus, Passenger Pigeon, Dodo, and much more. It wasn’t because mother earth was swallowing these creatures whole, but because they were driven to their end. Overhunting and overkilling have been two predominant components that were signaling the need for the entire world to take action. Thus, the result is hunting laws.
What is the benefit these laws offer?
To move the discussion how do game conservation laws affect hunters, we have to explore the advantages these laws come with.
For starters, there are quite a few.
- There are seasons where hunting can occur, limiting any prey hunt during mating seasons and breeding seasons.
- There are bag limits. This means no more killing can occur apart from the ones that can suitably be fit in the bags.
- There are limits on the kinds of weapons that are to be in usage.
- There are check stations and name tags in enforcement. The objective here is to ensure that only those under authorization can hunt. If hunting were to be open for everyone, then the world’s food population will slowly exhaust itself.
- A low pollution rate. Often at times, hunters end up camping in the hunting sites and throw waste such as plastic. That leads to an increase in the carbon footprint present on the earth and environmental degradation.
- The implementation of such laws allows for wildlife program funding. The hunters have to obtain licenses to hunt, which are then valuable for funding wildlife protection programs.
How do game conservation laws end up benefitting hunters?
In order to make sure that there isn’t an oversupply, in comparison to the number of animals in existence, there has been the imposition of specific laws. One of them is the “Pittman – Robertson Act.” What it calls for is equal protection of both the hunter and the prey. How that becomes possible is that the wildlife is able to flourish to the extent that there is no risk of extinction.
Once the goal above is able to attain fruit, it is there that hunters have the upper hand to hunt non-migratory animals. These include the deer and turkey. Therefore, the killing spree that the hunters were craving for is also satisfied. Additionally, the intention of maintaining animal stocks for future generations is also achievable.
Thus, in response to the question how do game conservation laws affect hunters, this is the positive side.
Is there a momentum of general discourse owing to the presence of these laws?
There has always been a party at the less receiving end, and here the hunters qualify for this. The laws in existence have been the subject of immense backlash. This is particularly the case because such laws restrict the amount of bags that hunters can carry.
For years, the tusks of an elephant were seen to be trophies exhibiting pride and bravery. However, now they are seen to be hampering the ecosystem, which disturbs the hunters out there. For most of them, the laws are nothing but an infringement of their gaming right.
While petitions have been sent to Parliaments and courts all around the world, there is less to be done. There is awareness in the general population with regards to safeguarding animal rights. Global warming is already on the loose, and so is overfishing in the oceans. Here, what remains to be a prominent source of food and needs protection are land animals. Albeit, there have been fishing laws in the past, their efficacy is not proven. Hence, it’s only fair that we try to secure what we can for not us but future generations.
Though the how do game conservation laws affect hunters, the hunters are on the losing side, the picture is bigger. The deal is high, and the stakes are great, so protection is mandatory for wildlife.
Who wins? Man vs. Wildlife
Here, if we resort to a more nuanced answer, no one is the victor. The animal population has already been under the red signal due to overhunting and overkilling. The stocks and the reserves that the earth once has haven’t been under restoration to even a quarter percent. The damage is high, and despite the laws in place, it is a matter of years before anybody can emerge victoriously.
How do game conservation laws affect hunters is equivalent to how these laws cater to the wildlife? With the depletion of stocks already in place, even experts find it uncertain whether in the next 50 years there will be enough food to feed the global populous or not.
As far as we talk of man, there are certainly options for food such as opting for plants. But, sadly, the trajectory here is that many kill for the sake of displaying their resources and their skill. It is not to put food on the table but to brag to others about the talent and the skills many possess.
If nothing is done for animals and the conservation laws are not strict enough, the future will indeed be bleak. It is for us to safeguard our planet and the entities residing within it. If we do not uphold these conservation laws, the earth may face the worst food crisis seen in its formation decades.