People who hunt enjoy a deep kinship with the environment. Hunting is a chance for them to shed the trappings of civilization and take a vacation"" from the human condition. They attach themselves to the land and develop a connection with nature. Despite what some may believe, hunters are truly environmentalists.
Throughout history, hunting was always an enjoyable diversion. In every age, every civilization and every class, people hunted. The experience of spending time in the wild, seeking out wild animals and confronting the struggle between man and animal is why so many people receive happiness from hunting.
Hunters must enter the places of the world where animals still roam free. They must not only observe the workings of an ecosystem, but also become part of it. The hunter is an actor in the world of nature, not a passive bystander that exists solely in modern civilization.
Many people who are not hunters probably feel that the practice is disrespectful of an animal's rights to life and that it goes against nature. They may see it as killing animals for the sake of pleasure alone, but that is a misunderstanding of hunting.
Killing is not essential to hunting. That may happen in the end, but the actual hunt is the pursuit. It is a fair chase between man and beast. A successful hunt is not defined by the death of an animal, but by the enjoyment of the hunter. Those who see hunting as ethically wrong should be relieved to know that animals are usually hunted in a manner which is not cruel, but rather is natural.
Most hunters have a profound respect for an animal's value to the hunter and to the connected ecosystem it came from. As philosopher José Ortega y Gasset explains, ""Every good hunter is uneasy in the depths of his conscience when faced with the death he is about to inflict on the enchanting animal."" He explains that the struggle is resolved by mankind's recognition that he is an animal, and yet something more, and therefore is entitled to his advantage over the creature.
The responsibility to preserve the environment for future generations motivates the management of game and wild places. Since hunting is usually passed on from generation to generation, hunters care about the continuation of species and habitats. Hunters are willing to ensure the security of animals in recognition of their worth as adversaries. They want wildlife to flourish as much as anyone else.
When people have actually played a role in the structure of an ecosystem, they can better appreciate its intrinsic value. Those who rely on the land and the life it supports for something that they desire to obtain are more likely to care about its welfare. Their vested interest in the well being of the environment makes hunters some of the best advocates.
Hunters and outdoorsmen were many of the first environmentalists in this country. Conservation leaders like Theodore Roosevelt, George Bird Grinnell and Aldo Leopold were avid hunters. It should be no surprise that most hunters and sportsmen belong to wildlife groups and actively contribute time, money and effort for wilderness conservation. The Federal Duck Stamp program, supported by duck hunters, saved more than 5.2 million acres of waterfowl habitat in the U.S. These wetlands are important not only for ducks, but also for clean water and air.
With the many environmental issues the world faces today, outdoor enthusiasts understand the importance of responsible policy and their interests should be considered. Hunters spend some of the most time in the wild, and they don't want to lose it.
Brian Bisek is a sophomore with an undecided major. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
