Quote:
Originally Posted by turbocarrera
Humans take the biggest buck, or the giant bear - sometimes for meat but sometimes for something to mount - almost never the weak or the old, as in nature. This is not survival of the fittest or natural selection. Apex animals are the strength of the species, do most of the breeding and we are seriously messing up some important parts of the food chain. We have to respect peoples rights to hunt, I have two uncles who live in the bush and trap/hunt their entire diet, but people that lay waste to the pinnacle of a species and just take a souvenir really need to be educated. It's a huge industry in Canada and it needs to stop.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RWebb
-You may be thinking of wolves or African Wild Dogs running down gazelles -- there, the old, the young, and sick are removed from the herd differentially. Genetically defective animals should be removed also. However the relation between that and mean population fitness has never been established.
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Incorrect, you really should read some US fish and wildlife studies. Game management and monitored/adjusted hunting (all funded by hunters license fees) is the best thing we can do for these herds.
When any one species is overhunted the hunting permits issued are reduced until the herd is again oversized, then restrictions are lifted. Meanwhile, the BILLIONS of dollars generated from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses is used
directly on wildlife preservation issues.
Hunting is a great benefit to our wildlife populations, observe:
NRA-ILA Hunting Facts
"Often camouflaged from the public eye, the efforts of hunters as conservationists over the last century have restored America's game populations and enhanced the habitat of numerous wildlife species. No other group has come close to sportsmen in contributing the volunteer hours and funding necessary to make such an impact on wildlife conservation.
President Theodore Roosevelt, arguably America's first prominent conservationist, knew first hand of the advantages regulated hunting and conservation bring to wildlife. During the late 1800s, Roosevelt saw animal numbers deteriorate because of over-hunting driven by unregulated meat and fur markets. As President, Roosevelt began creating programs aimed at restoring game populations to healthy levels.
Hunting is an integral part of the fabric of our economy and cultural heritage and it is also an important wildlife management tool. Everyone benefits from the excise taxes that hunters voluntarily pay on guns, ammunition and outdoor equipment.
Since 1937, hunters have contributed over 4 billion dollars through the Pittman-Robertson Act for the benefit of all wildlife species. These dollars have been used to purchase millions of acres of public lands.
Through over 10,000 clubs and organizations such as NRA, Ducks Unlimited, Safari Club International, National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Quail Unlimited,
sportsmen contribute an additional $300 million each year to wildlife conservation activities.
Hunters and fishermen fund nearly 75% of the annual income for all 50 state conservation agencies. Through license fees and excise taxes on arms and gear,
sportsmen contribute $200 million per year for wildlife conservation. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
Through legislative programs designed to channel funds back into the conservation process,
hunters have restored populations of deer, elk, antelope, turkeys and ducks to record numbers.
The numbers on that chart absolutely speak for themselves. The benefits of hunting are immense.
http://www.nraila.org/issues/factsheets/read.aspx?id=124
If hunting and the monies generated by hunting went away all 50 state conservation agencies would go bankrupt, and our national herds would plummet.