If you like hunting big game then you’re most likely always looking for a new challenge. Or perhaps you’re seeking a different species to add some diversity to your hunting accomplishments. Learning how to hunt pronghorn could certainly scratch that itch and offer a tremendous adventure.

No other big game animal today portrays, nor is associated with, the wide-open spaces of our country’s western prairies and grasslands more than the American pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana). 

Having pursued these animals myself and guided pronghorn hunts for many years, I compiled this guide to summarize what you need to know to get started.

Hunting Pronghorn, The Prairie Speedster

Despite popular belief, pronghorn are not actually antelope like the species found in Africa or Asia. Pronghorn are truly a unique North American species that use their incredible vision and speed to evade predators going all the way back to the Ice Age. 

The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in the western hemisphere. Top speeds can reach 55 mph with the pronghorn often being cited as the second-fastest land animal, second only to the African cheetah.

Horns and Appearance

Both males and females (bucks and does) can have horns. Bucks also have a distinctive black cheek and neck patch on both sides, while the does do not.

A female’s horns, if she has any, rarely exceed the length of her ears. Males shed their outer black sheath once a year leaving the boney inner core atop their head for a short time until the sheath supporting the prong grows back.

Pronghorns are the only ungulates (hoofed mammals) in the world that have horns and shed the outer sheath.

How to Identify a Trophy Buck

So, what factors do you look for to determine a good buck when it comes to trophy class horns?

Three things to consider:

• Horn length
• Prong length
• Circumference of the horn, or mass of the horn itself

From my experience, a buck with a horn length of 12 to 13 inches should be easily obtainable in most locations. That’s a good first pronghorn.

A 14-inch buck is beginning to be more interesting, while a 15 to 16-inch buck will be viewed as a trophy. With good prong length and some mass, a buck of that size could even make Boone & Crockett.

The longer the prongs, the better the buck will score. Trophy bucks will usually have prongs in the 3 inch and above category. If the prongs start above the ears, and the buck has good hooks on top, he is worth a very hard look.

A buck with 17 inches of horn length or greater is not common and, without a doubt, would be a trophy class animal.

States That Have Pronghorn Hunting

Huntable pronghorn populations exist in the following states:

• Wyoming
• New Mexico
• Montana
• Idaho
• Arizona
• Nevada
• Oregon
• Colorado
• Utah
• South Dakota
• Texas

Pronghorn numbers today are somewhere between half a million to one million animals scattered across western states. Wyoming is the top producer of pronghorn.

How to Hunt Pronghorn Antelope

Hunting styles are usually based around a spot and stalk approach.

Normally a good tactic is to be positioned on any elevated ridge or hilltop early in the morning with the sun at your back. Once the sun begins climbing any pronghorn to the west of your position will literally shine with the morning sun reflecting back off of them.

A good pair of binoculars and a spotting scope are a must-have, especially when trying to determine horn length. Some years, when there has been excellent grass growth, all I have spotted while glassing is the black horns of a buck sticking up above the grass while bedded.

Recommended: Best Binoculars for Hunting Deer, Elk & Other Game

If you don’t spot a buck that you like, keep moving and repeat the process until hopefully finding a buck that meets your criteria. Once you have pinpointed the buck you want to try for, a stalk may be in order. But be advised, pronghorn have excellent vision and they can run like the wind.

One interesting trait that these animals possess is that they are very curious. You may have heard of a hunter “flagging” a pronghorn to them. Although I have never taken a buck in this manner, I have concealed myself in tall grass and waved a cap or neckerchief when the animals were already watching me. They did in fact move closer to me out of curiosity, so I believe the tactic could be worth trying in a hunting situation.

Bowhunting Tips

If you are an archery hunter, you will most likely need to utilize a blind.

Some states have archery hunts beginning in late summer or early fall. Hotter temperatures mean water sources will be your best bet at getting within range for a bow shot, especially if set up with a ground blind. 

Rifle Hunting Tips

Any flat shooting rifle caliber is appropriate for hunting pronghorn. I have taken them with everything from a .243 Win, to .270 Win, to .30-06.

A .308 Winchester will also take down a pronghorn just fine, along with most big game animals in North America.

Recommended: Best .308 Rifles Reviewed

Pronghorn Hunting FAQs

1. What Time of Day Are Pronghorns Most Active?

Pronghorn generally live in open country, where tree cover is limited or non-existent, therefore it’s possible to hunt pronghorn throughout the day. It’s not necessary to start hiking or driving into your hunting area well before daylight. 

2. How Hard Is It To Hunt Pronghorn?

Pronghorn are not considered tough to bring down, so any well-placed shot is usually adequate. Shots could be from less than 100 yards to as far as you can see considering the flatness of the terrain that pronghorn occupy.

Your ability and skill for longer shots rest on your shoulders. Be responsible and ethical, always striving for a clean kill.  

3. How Is Pronghorn to Eat?

Like any wild game, pronghorn can range from just ok to excellent as table fare. Personally, I have the whole animal made into breakfast sausage and summer sausage which puts the meat in the excellent category in my book.

Final Thoughts

The American Pronghorn is well, truly American and no trophy room is complete without one in my estimation. Plenty of opportunities abound across many states for hunting the pronghorn. If you have never taken the time, maybe this next hunting season should include a pronghorn hunt in your crosshairs.

Photos by Terry Nelson, unless otherwise noted.

The post How to Hunt Pronghorn Antelope (A Seasoned Guide Explains) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Today it would seem that many people who want to enjoy the outdoors struggle with ethical questions concerning their impact, if any, on mother nature. Make no mistake, if you venture into the backcountry, no matter your activity, you are leaving a “footprint” of some kind, good or bad. 

When it comes to more consumptive uses such as hunting and fishing, many view fishing as a more ethical activity. Why? 

Arguments in Favor of Fishing

I would have to say most feel that with fishing, you can at least return the fish to the pond alive after you have caught it, catch and release as it is known.

But in some cases, that fish will not survive, the hook was swallowed and damage done. Or perhaps the time of year being too hot, the fish did not fare well after being caught and released. 

By the way, if the fish did swallow the hook, simply cut the line near the eye of the hook and leave it in the fish. The hook will slowly dissolve, and the fish will survive most of the time.

All Outdoor Recreation Leaves an Impact

In my mind, any activity conducted in the outdoors needs to be the least impactful possible.

Be ethical in your manner of use and enjoyment. Stay within the confines of the law, don’t litter and harvest only what you can make use of. Bag limits are in place to prevent the overharvesting of wild game, and, as ethical sportsmen and women, we must follow these guidelines. You get the idea.

So, Is Fishing More Ethical Than Hunting? 

While it is true that I can catch a fish and usually release it alive to be caught another day, I do not consider fishing more ethical than hunting. 

Both are consumptive uses of a natural and replenishable resource. Remember, you are making some level of impact on nature by simply traveling into the backcountry, whether you want to admit it or not. 

Do Fish Feel Pain?

Much of the debate today on overfishing and ethics seems to stem from the question, “do fish feel pain or fear?” 

Looking around at other research and opinions, we can find the following generalizations: 

• The experience of pain is, in the end, subjective.
• No one actually has hard data to show if fish feel pain because no one has figured out the response or communicated with a fish brain.

One side will assert that, since we can’t really know what a fish is feeling, we should assume that their avoidance of things that harm them could be evidence that they might feel pain. I believe this is a learned survival response, as referred to below.

The other side points to the lack of neurological structures in fish that we know relate to the feeling of pain in humans. This group argues that while fish avoid things that damage them, that response is a non-conscious neural process.

This can be likened to how you move your hand quickly off of a hot burner before you experience the pain. I agree with this theory.

I believe this ongoing debate of fish feeling pain or the ethical nature of fishing will most likely continue for years to come and will not be easily defined or solved, at least to some. 

However, in my book, it is very simple. All living things deserve respect and a degree of understanding on our part regarding the cycle of life. 

Even in the act of taking or harvesting or killing (whichever verb is more palatable to you), we must have respect and appreciation of the animal itself. If not, I believe your act of killing or catching (as in fishing) is unethical.  

The Joy of Fishing

Over my life, I have been blessed to have fished for everything from blue marlin in the Gulf of Mexico, cutthroat trout in the streams and rivers of Colorado, and tilapia on the Kafue River in Africa, to grayling in Alaska. 

In other words, fishing has been the heart and soul of many countless pleasurable days in the field over my life. I expect that will never change, nor do I intend to let it. 

There is nothing quite like feeling that tug and power at the other end of your line from a fish you have hooked. If that does not make you smile and perhaps giggle, I’m not sure anything will. Fishing refreshes your heart, mind, and soul. 

Some of my fondest memories of growing up were of time spent with my dad fishing on the lakes, streams, and rivers of New Mexico.  In later years, time spent with my daughter in those same places was irreplaceable, and I would not change or trade it for anything.  

Enjoy your time spent in the field, whether hunting, hiking, bird watching, or fishing. Just remember it’s on you to show both respect and an understanding of nature. 

In other words, don’t take wild things and places for granted. Now go fishing!

The post Is Fishing More Ethical Than Hunting? appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

In days gone by, when the expansion west was beginning, there was little question that game harvested was used on a regular basis as a source of protein. Today the answer to the question “do hunters eat what they kill” has become more a question of legalities and ethics. 

To be clear, my stance is that I only harvest what I can and will use, and I never leave the game in the field for the pure sport of killing. Taking a game to simply harvest its head and leave the meat to rot is the most serious ethical and legal violation.

In most cases, hunters eat what they kill. Not only is it considered the ethical thing to do, but regulations usually require that a maximum of edible meat from a game animal be harvested and preserved for human consumption. Wanton waste of an animal is frowned upon by the hunting community.

Local Regulations Set Standards for Harvesting Game Meat

We must look at the game and fish laws state to state to get a real handle on what is required by law. 

As an example, let’s say someone kills a deer in a state that legally requires only the quarters, backstraps, and inner loins to be salvaged from the deer. In addition, let’s say that the hunter also salvages the neck meat (which in many cases is left on the carcass) but leaves the ribs in the field because there’s not much meat on them. Most of us will agree at this point that the hunter has fulfilled their legal and moral obligation for salvaging meat. 

However, it would be different if you put that same hunter in the field in Alaska. If they salvage the same meat as in the first case (leaving the rest), they’d be guilty of wanton waste. Also, Alaska requires that meat from a carcass be transported back to your camp before the head can be taken from the field. This assures meat is harvested and transported out of the field before the head of the animal. 

What is the point? There are different standards and regulations for different situations and locations. 

Parts of Animals That Commonly Go to Waste

In reality, most hunters leave edible parts of animals in the woods or on the mountain. This may include head meat, organs, tongue, stomach, and intestines. Most state wildlife agencies do not require the removal of internal organs for human consumption, although many hunters take organs such as the liver for table fare. 

While it may vary state to state as to the laws concerning wanton waste, the location of where you are is a factor in salvaging the carcass. 

For example, many years ago, I spent some time in Africa (Zambia) hunting. Obviously, it is impractical (and most likely not legal) to bring meat back from overseas. All of the species I harvested in Africa, from Cape Buffalo to Zebra to Hartebeest, the meat was used in its entirety by the native people. They wasted nothing.   

Average Amount of Meat Harvested from Common Big Game Animals

The following table gives you some idea of the meat yield of certain ungulates (hoofed mammals) here in the US. These numbers, of course, can vary based on the actual live weight of the animal in the field.

The table above demonstrates big game meat yields here in the US. Most folks consider these species as the primary game taken for human consumption. 

Many other game species, from predators to furbearers to small game and fish, are commonly hunted and harvested for table fare. 

Predators and Furbearers

Exceptions to whether hunters eat what they kill come when we begin discussing predatory species, such as bear or mountain lion, and furbearers (fox, beaver, bobcat, etc.). 

The meat from these species is not required to be removed by law in many states. Why? Many do not consider meat from these species as optimal for human consumption. Although any of these animals are certainly usable for protein.

You may ask, are there any safety concerns when eating a predatory animal? The short answer is there can be. 

Big Cats

Like wild pigs and bears, big cats can be carriers of Trichinella spiralis, the roundworm that causes trichinosis in humans. In nature, only the flesh of meat-eating animals like bears and mountain lions is known to sometimes carry trichinella. The meat of plant-eaters, such as deer and elk, does not. Contamination is easily prevented by cleaning knives and cutting surfaces after processing and cooking to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

The most common description I hear of both the mountain lion and the bobcat is that it tastes like lean pork. The flavor is mild, almost bland as far as game meat goes. 

Because of the mild flavor, the meat from large cats takes seasoning well. Any of your favorite seasoning blends and cooking methods for chicken or pork will work well with cats. Overnight brining in saltwater before cooking also adds moisture to the finished meal, a technique often used for all wild game. 

Bear

Bear meat, as mentioned, has the same issue of causing possible trichinosis, and therefore thorough cooking is a must. Nonetheless, it is commonly consumed, even considered a delicacy, by hunters. 

Most bear meat for consumption is used in sausage, stews, and kebabs. 

The moral of the story: if you are going to utilize meat from species considered furbearers or predatory, you should follow proper cooking protocols.

Small Game, Fowl, and Fish

Species included in this category would consist of rabbits, squirrels, all game birds (quail, pheasant, dove, waterfowl, etc.), and all fish species.

Fish

While I love to fish and enjoy a good fish fry once in a while, I am not a huge fish eater. The beauty with fishing is I can catch the fish and then release that same fish to be caught again another day. Keep in mind that you are certain to occasionally kill a fish that swallows a hook, at which time I will take that fish home for consumption.

Small Game

Small mammals such as squirrels and rabbits (especially cottontails) can be excellent table fare. But as with any wild animal, precautions should be taken. Rabbits especially can be the carriers of rabbit fever, but more properly known as Tularemia. 

Tularemia is caused by infection with the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which is found in small mammals such as rodents and rabbits, and arthropods, such as ticks. The bacterium that causes tularemia is most often transmitted to humans by a tick or biting fly bite, handling of an infected animal, or inhalation or ingestion of the bacterium. 

My rule of thumb for cottontail and squirrels, hunt them only in the coldest part of the year and cook thoroughly.

Game Birds

As to game birds, some are better table fare than others. Quail and pheasant tend to be on the top of the choice menu more than say duck or dove. 

Do not get me wrong. I have had my fair share of duck, geese, sandhill crane, and dove. The darker meat of these migratory birds that fly great distances requires more creative recipes to get high marks on the flavor scale, at least for me.

Hunters Eat What They Kill

There are, of course, endless recipes for all manner of wild game. In my estimation, you can never go wrong in turning wild game into jerky or sausage. Search out, veteran hunters. They will provide you with excellent recommendations for turning your game harvest into a first-rate meal.  

The bottom line is, yes, hunters eat what they kill. They utilize meat from what they kill in most instances. And they salvage the meat where required by law. 

I have an almost endless list of friends that are always on the lookout for some wild game for the freezer. Most years, I happily share game that I have taken during the fall and winter seasons. I do not believe in wasting game. I’m sure you don’t either.  

Our forefathers depended on wild game to survive. As a hunter not only is it ethical, but it is your responsibility to make good use of the animal you harvest. To do otherwise is a dishonor to the hunting community and the animal itself.

Recommended reading: Is Fishing More Ethical Than Hunting?

The post Do Hunters Eat What They Kill? (By Animal Type, Ethics) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

As outdoorsmen and women living in the US, we enjoy some of the greatest hunting, fishing, shooting, and other outdoor opportunities to be found anywhere on the planet. 

Most outdoors folks would fall into the conservationist category rather than a preservationist. Meaning that if you wisely use the resource, you are a conservationist. As such, we have an obligation to follow game laws, conserve habitat, and contribute to enhancements that give back to wildlife and wild places.

Support Conservation Efforts if You Hunt or Fish

Not since the days of market hunting, the non-existence of game laws, and the expansion west have we seen such a threat to wildlife and wild places as we see today, and not just nationally but globally. 

This is not to say that natural resource conservation efforts through state game and fish agencies, federal agencies, and private efforts have not had major success stories when it comes to conservation efforts. They have. All across the globe, there are huge efforts underway to conserve wild places and all species of wildlife living within those places.

What is the Problem? 

In essence, we are. 

As the human population expands, there is an ever-increasing demand for resources. This means more timber, more energy, more water, and more space to cultivate and grow food, build houses, and fuel cars for an ever-growing human population. 

What does Wildlife Require to Flourish? 

The same things we need: food, water, shelter, and space. 

In one of his recent stunning documentary films, A Life on Our Planet, David Attenborough describes the threat to wild places and species today with a graphic video. 

It boils down to one fact, the loss of biodiversity caused by human influence. I agree. 

What to Do? 

Find a cause and support it. 

Get involved using your personal resources, your time, and your money. 

Do not get me wrong, as an outdoorsman, I believe in wise use or conservation. Hunting, fishing, and other consumptive uses of natural resources have a place and are viable management tools within legal parameters.    

Where to Start? 

Just about any direction, you turn there is a need. Start with your state conservation agencies. All have volunteer programs that work directly with habitat restoration projects. 

Most federal natural resource agencies such as the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and others have similar programs. They often join forces with state agencies regarding conservation projects where volunteers can get involved. 

Look to private organizations like: 

• Ducks Unlimited
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• Trout Unlimited
• Pheasants Forever
• National Wild Turkey Foundation
• Mule Deer Foundation

Those groups are just a mere drop in the bucket. 

Conservation Causes Related to Hunting and Fishing

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest threats to wildlife and its habitat today:

Illegal Trafficking of Wildlife/Poaching

Look beyond our borders. Do you have dreams of visiting or hunting Africa? 

One of the greatest threats to wildlife in Africa and worldwide today is poaching. Illegal trafficking of wildlife now stands as one of the world’s top criminal enterprises. The loss of wild elephant and rhino populations in Africa due to poaching simply for ivory and horn is staggering. This is due to the demand for these products via Asian markets. 

Support conservation groups such as Dallas Safari Club and the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF). IAPF was founded by Damien Mander, an ex-Australian special forces operator during the Iraq war. While I do not agree entirely with every concept IAPF stands on, I do agree, as I am sure you would too, that the poaching of elephants and rhinos today for ivory and horn is a travesty of epic proportions. 

Of course, the illegal trade of ivory and rhino horn is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to real threats caused by poaching. These illegal activities could lead to the possible extinction of an entire species.  

Loss of Habitat

Without a doubt, loss of habitat or the fragmentation of quality habitat is a major threat to all wildlife today. While some wild species can and do thrive in urban areas, this also leads to conflict between humans and wildlife. In the end, wildlife is usually the loser. 

Aside from the impact on wild animals, the long-term effects on the global human populations can and will be catastrophic when considering mass deforestation. Forests are critical to the planet’s health from a biodiversity standpoint and from the absorption of carbon and the production of oxygen they provide. 

Just look at the continued destruction of the Amazon Rain Forest today. It is alarming and concerning.

Climate Change

Believe it or not, there is an ongoing change in our climate. 

The climate has changed for millions of years, some say. True, but the human population was not the same thousands of years ago as it is today. Long-term impacts of climate change are hard to measure, but it goes without saying that it is probably not good. 

At some level, there may be a point of no return. 

Pollution

No one likes to see trash heaps in wild places. And pollution does not affect wildlands exclusively. 

The negative impacts to streams, lakes, rivers and oceans worldwide from pollution are highly concerning and particularly damaging to the world’s water systems. Oceans are the world’s largest habitat and one of its most critical. It also happens to be one of the most abused ecosystems and is taken for granted when it comes to pollution. We cannot tolerate this any longer. 

As outdoors enthusiasts, we all need to be willing to take an extra step or two to give back to what has given us so much. Those wild places we go to enjoy in the pursuit of game and fish, or just to hike a trail, are in reality, critical to our existence. 

Find a cause and get involved. Wild places need to remain wild. Wildlife needs those wild places to survive. We all do.

The post You’re a Conservationist if You Hunt or Fish: What’s Your Cause? appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Today the question of hunting is brought to the forefront more than at any time in history. Is hunting ethical, necessary, outdated, or any other of a dozen philosophical questions?

Some would argue that hunting today is just a cultural thing, that most folks hunt only because their father, grandfather, or any number of past friends and relations have done so. That is certainly true in many cases; most good hunters had a mentor sometime in the past to show them the ropes.

For those of us who grew up outdoors hunting and fishing, the need to articulate and justify our will to continue this custom can be perplexing. After all, it is part of our core and soul, something that few can understand unless they can understand hunting as something other than a repulsive act of taking the life of a wild animal.

In an effort to dispel some misconceptions surrounding this popular pastime, let’s take a hard look at both the pros and cons of hunting.

Is Hunting Ethical?

If you think about it, today’s society would have never existed had it not been for hunting. Hunting is the primary way Native Americans survived. Subsequently, the European explorers, mountain men, and settlers survived and established civilizations that eventually reached the very ground your home is sitting on right now.

Do not be too quick to judge those who continue to hunt today. If you consume meat, sit on a leather sofa or chair, carry leather handbags, or wear leather shoes, you are utilizing a product that at one time was a living, breathing creature.

Hunting is in our blood, passed down from generations and countless centuries before us.

Yes, hunting is ethical. And in today’s world, I would even say absolutely necessary.

Wildlife Populations Have Increased Due to Conservation Efforts

Looking back at the market hunting days of the 19th and early 20th centuries, we can see how over-hunting caused huge losses of wildlife populations. Those were different times and circumstances.

The good news is that the sportsman/hunter saw the need to manage game populations and enacted laws that today are responsible for the greatest success story in wildlife conservation ever known.

In the early 1900s, several wild game populations were near extinction. By contrast, take a look at the following numbers provided by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

• Elk: only 41,000 remained in North America; today there are over 1 million
• Whitetail Deer: only 500,000 remained in North America; today there are over 30 million
• Wild Turkeys: only 100,000 remained in North America; today there are over 6 million
• Pronghorn: only 13,000 remained in North America; today over 1 million
• Wild Ducks: near extinction in many parts of North America, today over 40 million

The Role of Hunters in Conservation

These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg and only a small example of what collaborative efforts by hunters, conservation groups, and wildlife agencies have done for wild populations. And most of this through hunting dollars. Do not think for a minute that the efforts of these groups only benefit game populations. 

Habitat conservation and preservation not only benefit game animals but by association, non-game species as well.

A point to remember, hunters are the primary force behind the revenue that goes into conservation and wildlife management programs via license fees and volunteer programs such as Mule Deer Foundation or Ducks Unlimited, to mention but a couple.

Want to worry about the ethics of hunting and its impacts on wildlife? Rather worry with the ethics of serious poaching (driven by the demand for ivory, rhino horn, and other animal products in Asian markets), climate change, and habitat destruction we are seeing today on a catastrophic global basis.

Related: You’re a Conservationist if You Hunt or Fish: What’s Your Cause?

Cultural Influences on Hunting

There is little doubt that a person’s culture, where they came from, and how they were raised has a substantial influence on whether they hunt or not. Having been raised in a hunting home, naturally, I continue to have a drive towards hunting. Many today continue to depend on hunting to supplement their food stores and protein for the year.

In days gone by, hunting was mainly considered to be a man’s pursuit. But today, women are the fastest-growing segment of new shooters and gun owners, and the newest increase of the overall population to the hunting field.

The younger generation is where the future of hunting, conservation, and wild places will really be determined. Young people today need to experience the outdoors, even if it’s to observe and go hiking. They need to realize that the food they use to fuel their bodies does not magically appear in the grocery store or at the fast-food place.

Hunting forces a connection, understanding, and respect of nature and wildlife that is hard to grasp in any other way.

As long as hunters continue to follow prescribed laws and bag limits in conjunction with state game and fish agencies using sound biology when setting these game laws, wild populations should continue to thrive for generations.

The most serious threat to all wildlife, as already mentioned, is habitat destruction and severe poaching, as we see in the case of elephants and rhinos in Africa today.

Cons of Hunting

The slob hunter, who is really no hunter at all, is the one that gives hunting a bad name. These are the culprits that give hunting and hunters such a bad name, those who:

• commit game violations at every turn
• are indifferent to the rules of fair chase
• have little regard for private lands or other boundaries
• and parade their kill around with little consideration for those that find such displays offensive

There will always be those who will never support or agree with hunting. However, while not hunters themselves, most folks understand that regulated hunting is necessary for the long-term survival of many species.

Pros of Hunting

Many anti-hunting groups are floating around today that will disclaim the preceding statement. Still, the facts are well documented and can be traced back to establishing the Pitman-Robertson Act of 1937.

Again, take a look at some statistics provided by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation when it comes to funding for wildlife conservation:

• Through state licenses and fees, hunters pay $796 million a year for conservation programs.
• Through donations to groups like RMEF, hunters graciously add $440 million a year to conservation efforts.
• In 1937, hunters requested an 11% tax on guns, ammo, bows, and arrows to help fund conservation.
  • That tax generates $371 million a year for conservation.
  • So far, the tax has raised more than $8 billion for wildlife conservation.
• All together, hunters pay more than $1.6 billion a year for conservation programs. No one gives more than hunters!
• Every single day U.S. sportsmen contribute $8 million to conservation.
• Hunting funds conservation AND the economy, generating $38 billion a year in retail spending.

These fees, taxes, and contributions, along with modern-day conservation efforts by state and federal wildlife management agencies, have long outpaced any stated efforts by those claiming hunting is always a bad thing.

What do these conservation efforts and funds equal to in real terms? It means lands set aside and purchased for wildlife habitat, water improvements, travel corridors (over, under or around major roadways), supporting state game and fish agencies and anti-poaching programs, re-establishment of wild populations, and education programs to mention but a few.

Conclusion

Remember this, humans have hunted since the beginning of time. All cultures relied on hunting in one way or another for survival. Humans have forged a connection with wildlife and the lands that support them over countless centuries. As a hunter, I have no interest or intent of seeing wild populations become extinct, whether game animals or not. 

My desire to hunt has somewhat diminished as I have grown older. Today I can enjoy viewing wildlife as much as I do hunting. But deep inside, I still have that fire and drive to hunt. It was established thousands of years ago by our ancestors. It will always be there, even in generations to come.

The post Pros and Cons of Hunting: Ethics, Culture, and Conservation appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

It’s that time of year; a change in the seasons is just around the corner. You can feel it with the evening temperatures starting to drop, winds subtly change directions, and fall colors begin to show. Fall is my favorite time of year, in part because hunting seasons have finally arrived.

Perhaps you are new to the sport and are looking for some ideas and suggestions for being a responsible and ethical hunter. Good. Hunting after all is not just a sport it is a calling and once it’s in your blood you soon realize it’s not just about the kill, but goes much deeper than that. 

Hunters demonstrate they are responsible by educating themselves on game laws and following hunting ethics such as fair chase. They respect landowners, the animal, and the viewpoint of non-hunters. Responsible hunters engage in conservation efforts and do not tolerate illegal hunting activities.

Let’s explore a few concepts for taking you down the path of responsible, ethical, enjoyable hunting. 

Hunting Is a Lifetime Pursuit

I know it’s important that the readers of this article feel like the author may actually know something about the subject matter, so with that in mind the following will give you some idea of my background. 

Hunting has been an integral part of my life since boyhood. Some of my fondest memories of my dad are of days in the field hunting quail, pheasants, and ducks. Likewise, my brother and I continue our annual deer hunt and will as long as our legs can carry us over the hills. There have been many other dear friends and mentors no longer here, but whose friendship and bonds were forged in the field and around campfires. 

Hunting and the outdoors have taken me around the world, farther than I had ever imagined traveling. In short hunting has been and will continue to be at the core of my soul.

Aside from growing up hunting, fishing, trapping, and spending most of my waking hours outdoors, I have also made a career out of it. I served as a state game and fish officer for about two decades and was a hunter education instructor as required as part of my regular duties during the same time. I work seasonally as a hunting guide and have done so for many years.    

What Are Some Characteristics of Responsible Hunters?

Education and training are the first attributes that come to mind for those striving to be responsible in the hunting field. This can be gained via many avenues: a hunter education course, taking the time to understand and know the game laws of your state, and time in the field with hunters who are ethical and willing to mentor.

Education and Training

Game laws have existed for hundreds of years when you consider a global perspective. In the United States, the laws governing the harvest of game are generally relegated to state game and fish agencies. Laws regarding seasons, bag limits and weapon types, to mention a few, are enforced first and foremost by the local state game warden. As a responsible hunter it is your responsibility to know these laws and adhere to them. 

Game laws have historically been written as tools for the conservation and management of species. In today’s modern wildlife management approach, laws and legal methods of harvest are often crafted with the intent to benefit not only game species, but also other wildlife or the resources necessary to sustain them.

Careful preparation and knowledge of ballistic tools is necessary for a successful hunt, not to mention ethical. This might include, for example, selecting the right caliber and ammunition for the game you will be hunting, sighting in your rifle at the gun range, and then striving to make a perfect one-shot kill when the opportunity presents itself. 

Discipline and Respect

Knowing your limitations when taking a shot at game is just as important. Is the distance too far? Can you make the shot offhand or should you seek a more stable shooting position? These are all questions and issues every seasoned and responsible hunter considers before heading to the field.

Parading your kill on the hood of the car and driving around town is a practice that has outlived its popularity. Non-hunters are often offended by this tactic and in all honesty, it shows a disrespect for the animal itself. While it is appropriate to take photos of your harvest in the field, and to be proud of your kill, it is important to remember that not everyone shares your enthusiasm. Be courteous and respectful to non-hunters as well as showing respect to the animal itself. 

Responsible Hunters Fund Conservation Efforts

Although it’s unbeknownst to many licensed hunters, each one pays an 11% excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition they purchase under what is known as the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937. Since its inception, more than 12 billion dollars have been raised for state conservation incentives through this program. These funds are then used by the states for wildlife management and conservation projects. So, when you hear the phrase, “hunters pay for wildlife conservation” it is literally true. 

Additionally, many hunters belong to wildlife conservation organizations, such as those listed below, to mention only a few.

• Ducks Unlimited
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• National Wild Turkey Federation
• Quail Forever

These groups are dedicated to the future of wildlife populations and their habitat. I would encourage any dedicated and responsible hunter to become involved in one or more of these organizations.

Related: You’re a Conservationist if You Hunt or Fish: What’s Your Cause? 

What Is the First Step to Becoming a Responsible Hunter?

A mentor, someone to show you the ropes who is experienced, is usually the first place to start. For most this person would normally be a dad, grandfather, older sibling, close friend, or in some cases all of the above. 

A close second would be to enroll in a hunter safety/education course. In many states this is required of any hunter regardless of age to even purchase a hunting license. These courses are well worth the time and effort for both youth and adults.  

What Can Positive Actions by Responsible Hunters Lead to?

Your reputation as an ethical and responsible hunter should be as important to you as your reputation as a citizen in your community. Responsible actions as a hunter often will lead to recognition within the hunting community and from private and government-based conservation organizations. This might include being asked to serve on wildlife management committees, to take part on conservation projects, or to become a hunter education instructor yourself.

Want to have access to private land other than your own for hunting? Then solid hunting ethics and being responsible when given permission to hunt private farms and ranches is a must, aside from just plain being the right thing to do. This means:

• Taking care of the landowner’s property
• Closing gates that you go through
• Not parking too close to livestock watering areas
• Hunting only where the landowner designates
• Picking up your trash
• Only targeting wild game that you came there for and that the farmer/rancher agreed to allow you to hunt

We could go on and on, but you get the picture. 

Hunters that are unethical are obviously not responsible and become labeled as slob hunters, not a title you want to be labeled with.

How Can Responsible and Ethical Hunters Show Respect for Non-hunters?

As hunters we must recognize and understand that not everyone shares our enthusiasm for the actual harvesting of game. And that’s ok. Most non-hunters do not necessarily have a problem with hunting and many are enthusiastic and supportive of wildlife in other ways.

As mentioned, the days of driving through town with your recent deer harvest draped over the hood or the roof of your vehicle are way outdated. While you should be proud of ethically harvesting game, there is no need to be disrespectful to those who do not see it your way and to the animal itself. This applies even more so to plastering your recent hunting pics all over social media, in my opinion. 

I am not suggesting you hide the fact that you are a hunter, but rather show respect and courtesy for those who are not hunters and perhaps will never be. These folks in many cases enjoy wildlife viewing along with conservation programs as much as many hunters do.

How Can Non-hunters Show Respect for Responsible Hunters?

First, non-hunters need to realize that hunting has been a part of living and survival for thousands of years. And while many non-hunters believe that hunting in modern times is not essential for humans to survive, hunting is a critical tool for management of wildlife on a global basis. 

Hunting generates billions of dollars annually worldwide driving critical parts of the economy. 

In many parts of the US and around the world, hunting for subsistence is a real fact. Since the days of market hunting at the turn of the last century and the advent of game management practices and gun laws, there can be little argument of the positive role hunting plays in the modern day. I’m referring, of course, to legal hunting and not blatant poaching activity that oftentimes can be traced back to organized crime.

Non-hunters can and should respect legal hunting by not interfering with those activities and hunters in the field. In most states there are laws that make it a criminal offense to interfere or harass hunters.

Both hunters and non-hunters should report illegal hunting activity to their local conservation officers, as both sides have a vested interest in wildlife populations and its habitat.    

From a Conservation Officer and Lifelong Hunter Point of View

As previously alluded to, I served as a state game warden for about two decades. Over those years combined with my continued time in the hunting field today, I have seen more than my share of good hunters and then the few that have made things bad for everyone. 

Interestingly enough, at times people who’d never consider pushing legalities in their day to day lives are willing to stretch their luck with game laws. There seems to be a few game laws that are consistently a challenge for some hunters to adhere to and that I feel are worth mentioning here. After all, we are discussing being responsible hunters and following the rules is a critical part of that responsibility.

The following are the legal areas I see hunters stumble with the most:

• Trespassing
• Shooting from the roadway
• Shooting from a vehicle
• Driving off road while hunting
• Hunting without the proper license or related stamps
• Hunting in the wrong region

Many of the above can easily be as simple as an oversight, reading a map wrong or getting carried away in the moment. And then there are those violations that true poachers and criminals are willing to commit:

• Spotlighting
• Hunting without a license
• Exceeding the bag limit
• Killing for the head or trophy only and allowing meat to go to waste (a most serious violation in my book and one that warrants a physical arrest if caught)
• Intentional Trespass
• Using the license of another 
• Littering

Oh, and be sure to leave the alcohol in camp until the day’s hunt is over. Drinking and hunting do not mix and is a serious violation in many states.

Words of Wisdom

I point all of this out to make some key points. As hunters we must go the extra mile to be responsible, ethical, courteous and vigilant. It is on our shoulders to understand the law and strive to make clean, ethical kills. Make every effort to find and recover any game animal that is wounded, and make use of that animal to the fullest extent. 

Now more than ever before the eyes of the world are on us as hunters. As the habitat for wildlife shrinks despite the best conservation efforts, hunters must take the lead and police their own. There are those that will be considered “slob hunters” and poachers. Not a title you ever want to wear. And then there are those that will be considered true sportsmen and worthy of being welcomed back on any private farm, ranch, public land, or around the campfires of those that came before us. 

Hunting will create lasting memories and adventures in the field that will never be forgotten. We owe it to ourselves, future generations and the wildlife itself to be responsible hunters. It is not a task to be taken lightly.

Recommended reading: Is Fishing More Ethical Than Hunting?

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