Hunting seems to be a key point in many people’s lives here in Texas; some can’t imagine their life without it. Many people can attest that they know at least one hunter, but this may soon not be true as hunting participation is slowly starting to fade out. Hunting used to be a lot more prevalent in the 1980s when being outdoors was valued in society. We, as a state, and even country, have strayed away from hunting in recent years. The reasons for this vary from animal rights activists to the aging of prevalent hunters. In order to combat this, many hunters are beginning to educate the public about the havoc that may arise if hunting participation continues decreasing. Many people are not aware that the purchasing of hunting licenses and hunting supplies is what funds a majority of conservation agencies in our country. In addition, hunting ensures that game populations are being regulated to combat overpopulation and other issues that may arise when wildlife is not properly managed.
A great way to understand the issue the sport of hunting is facing is by talking to local hunters like Collin Culberson. Collin is a sophomore at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and studying Range & Wildlife Management. Collin has been a hunter his whole life and is an advocate for the sport and industry of hunting. When interviewed, Collin went into great detail about how hunters are important to our country. They are the main source of support to state and federal conservation agencies. He also believes the public needs to know that many hunters are ethical. They ensure they do everything right, even when no one is watching. Collin did acknowledge the issue at hand with those that go against hunting. He identified the problems with hunters not respecting the animal and at times mistreating them. However, he stated that a majority of hunters are not like this. Most hunters follow all rules and are respectful to the animals being hunted.
With more people wishing to advocate for hunting, like Collin, we may be able to put a stop to this decrease in hunting. If we wish to protect the sport of hunting we must inform others. When given the opportunity, try to educate others about the importance hunting has on our state and country. Inform non-hunters about the strict rules and regulations hunters must follow. A vast majority of this issue can be solved with proper education and advocacy to the public.
Hunting is a large part of many people’s lives, and if we wish to continue the tradition of hunting in our families and culture, it is important that we speak out and be the difference this industry needs.
