Hunters help balance populations
(December 9, 2004) — A small minority of people would have everyone
look at the hunter as a ruthless, inhumane murderer of animals.
However, those people represent an uninformed, misaligned minority.
First of all, the hunter's role is very much misunderstood. The
state Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for
ensuring the welfare of our wildlife and fisheries. There is an
unwritten partnership between the licensed and safety-trained hunter
and the DEC.
The numbers of animals and fish in any given group are closely
monitored for health, population and other pertinent data. Ideally,
there is a balance in populations such as deer, pheasants, rabbits,
squirrels, even algae, baitfish and harvestable fish of all kinds.
Also, the numbers of predators must be aligned.
When this balance gets out of control, the entire population
suffers. For example, if habitat (food, cover and water) diminishes,
the wildlife in that area suffer. Man causes that problem, and this
factor must always be uppermost in the minds of developers and
farmers who unknowingly or, worse, uncaringly displace wildlife.
For those who believe that hunting is cruel and inhumane, consider
animals weakened by starvation and preyed upon by other animals such
as coyotes and wolves because the numbers are higher than the area
(habitat) will support. Starving animals are easy prey, and when
predators take an animal down it is seldom merciful. When predator
numbers rise beyond normal limits, even healthy animals succumb to
the food chain of predation.
Today's sportsman is the tool by which the DEC manages wildlife.
Money collected from license fees is turned back directly to the
conservation effort. It is a direct result of the hunter and
sportsman that wildlife such as ducks, wild turkeys, deer, elk,
salmon and many others have flourished.
Sportsmen create habitat and plant small fields of food for animals
during harsh weather. They also cull weak and suffering wildlife in
a humane manner to ensure a healthy population and strong
reproductive genes in all of the wildlife populations. The sportsman
is told which wildlife in which areas and in what numbers control is
needed. The sportsman then reports back on his success so the DEC
has more input on the program's success.
Without the sportsman, this would be an impossible task and the
balance of nature would soon be totally out of control.
Predator numbers have increased to a level that is very possibly
close to jeopardizing some of our wildlife populations because there
has been little thinning of predators. Hunting is necessary to
maintaining a healthy herd of animals with a strong gene pool.
As a sportsman and outdoors instructor, I assure you that all
sportsmen are told in the strongest terms that to kill for the sake
of killing is intolerable and the worst possible reason to hunt. The
responsible hunter does so with the intent first of all of enjoying
nature. If he or she should have the opportunity to harvest an
animal, that is extra good fortune and a bonus for the table.
Predators cause more suffering because of their hunting practices
than any sport hunter could imagine causing. Perhaps the anti-
hunters of America could better spend their time promoting habitat
for wildlife.
Kellem, of Rochester, is a member of the Bergen Rod & Gun Club, and
he teaches sportsmanship for the state Department of Environmental
Conservation.
(December 9, 2004) — A small minority of people would have everyone
look at the hunter as a ruthless, inhumane murderer of animals.
However, those people represent an uninformed, misaligned minority.
First of all, the hunter's role is very much misunderstood. The
state Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for
ensuring the welfare of our wildlife and fisheries. There is an
unwritten partnership between the licensed and safety-trained hunter
and the DEC.
The numbers of animals and fish in any given group are closely
monitored for health, population and other pertinent data. Ideally,
there is a balance in populations such as deer, pheasants, rabbits,
squirrels, even algae, baitfish and harvestable fish of all kinds.
Also, the numbers of predators must be aligned.
When this balance gets out of control, the entire population
suffers. For example, if habitat (food, cover and water) diminishes,
the wildlife in that area suffer. Man causes that problem, and this
factor must always be uppermost in the minds of developers and
farmers who unknowingly or, worse, uncaringly displace wildlife.
For those who believe that hunting is cruel and inhumane, consider
animals weakened by starvation and preyed upon by other animals such
as coyotes and wolves because the numbers are higher than the area
(habitat) will support. Starving animals are easy prey, and when
predators take an animal down it is seldom merciful. When predator
numbers rise beyond normal limits, even healthy animals succumb to
the food chain of predation.
Today's sportsman is the tool by which the DEC manages wildlife.
Money collected from license fees is turned back directly to the
conservation effort. It is a direct result of the hunter and
sportsman that wildlife such as ducks, wild turkeys, deer, elk,
salmon and many others have flourished.
Sportsmen create habitat and plant small fields of food for animals
during harsh weather. They also cull weak and suffering wildlife in
a humane manner to ensure a healthy population and strong
reproductive genes in all of the wildlife populations. The sportsman
is told which wildlife in which areas and in what numbers control is
needed. The sportsman then reports back on his success so the DEC
has more input on the program's success.
Without the sportsman, this would be an impossible task and the
balance of nature would soon be totally out of control.
Predator numbers have increased to a level that is very possibly
close to jeopardizing some of our wildlife populations because there
has been little thinning of predators. Hunting is necessary to
maintaining a healthy herd of animals with a strong gene pool.
As a sportsman and outdoors instructor, I assure you that all
sportsmen are told in the strongest terms that to kill for the sake
of killing is intolerable and the worst possible reason to hunt. The
responsible hunter does so with the intent first of all of enjoying
nature. If he or she should have the opportunity to harvest an
animal, that is extra good fortune and a bonus for the table.
Predators cause more suffering because of their hunting practices
than any sport hunter could imagine causing. Perhaps the anti-
hunters of America could better spend their time promoting habitat
for wildlife.
Kellem, of Rochester, is a member of the Bergen Rod & Gun Club, and
he teaches sportsmanship for the state Department of Environmental
Conservation.
