Conservationist groups play an important role in keeping the wildlife population thriving here in Wisconsin and all over the world. Yet the very people killing animals are saving them as well.
Hunters are not only on the forefront of today's conservationist movement—they actually started it. Teddy Roosevelt established the first national parks, developed conservation programs, and started the wildlife preserve program. He even founded the Boone and Crockett Club, which is one of the largest conservation groups in the world. And yet, he was an avid hunter.
In fact, many of the most influential conservationist groups of the early 20th century were composed of hunters. Still today hunters contribute time and money to keeping the environment and wildlife flourishing. No other group has come close to sportsmen in donating time and money to make an impact on wildlife conservation.
Less than 10 percent of state fish and wildlife budgets actually come from the general taxpayer. Paul Smith of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes, ""hunters and shooters have long paid more than their share for conservation."" A huge majority of funding for wildlife management comes from hunters, through licenses, excise tax on guns and ammo, tags fees, and donations.
In the 20th century, game species have made a remarkable recovery. The white-tailed deer population has increased by nearly 20 million, turkey populations by nearly 4 million and elk by nearly 1 million. This is largely due to the $300 million a year clubs and organizations such as the NRA, Ducks Unlimited and Safari Club International donate to wildlife preservation.
There are even hunters right here in Madison who have made a huge impact on the conservation movement. Aldo Leopold, an avid hunter, was a professor here at UW Madison in 1933. He also paved the way for modern environmental ethics and was on the front lines of the wilderness conservation movement.
Students also contribute to wildlife conservation. The Badger Hunting Club is very closely connected to the local Ducks Unlimited Chapter of Madison. While the Hunting Club does go out on hunting trips every so often, it spends just as much time cleaning Wisconsin's wetlands. Former President of the Madison Chapter of Ducks Unlimited Ryan Wagner noted that ""if these wetlands and other habitats in general [are] not there for future generations then I'm kind of selfish for using it for myself and not passing it on."" Hunters feel a huge sense of responsibility to keep these hunting grounds healthy and sustainable in the long term.
So the next time you look at a guy dressed head to toe in camouflage with disgust, remember that be contributing to the preservation of wildlife and not just eradicating it.
Nick Fritz is a junior majoring in marketing. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.
