Deadline #10 HW #5 Two Paragraphs

Highlighted colors represent the evidence and in-text citations I used for WP #3.

Hunters contribute numerous amounts of money to conservation for the benefit of wildlife and people. The money for conservation helps preserve land and wildlife for future hunting opportunities and healthy wildlife populations. American hunters contribute more than $1 billion a year to wildlife conservation programs (Worsnop 6). The money comes from federal taxes on hunting equipment, ammunition, fishing boats, state hunting and fishing licenses, and federal “duck stamps” (Worsnop 6). Sportsmen’s organizations contribute to conservation projects. For example, Ducks Unlimited, a national sportsmen organization for wetlands and waterfowl, and 550,000 of its members raise money to protect wetlands in Canada and the United States used by migratory waterfowl, as well as other animal species (Worsnop 6). The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has protected over five million acres and opened 492,000 acres to public access for hunting and outdoor activities (Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation). In addition, The National Wild Turkey Federation raised over $253 million for conservation (National Wild Turkey Federation). Hunters and sportsmen’s organizations are a great benefit to conservation in America. With all the contributions from hunters, anti-hunting groups are absent, and do not give to conservation programs. They are more concerned about hunting, and not the big picture.

Legislation has a large role in keeping hunting in America. According to the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, anti-hunting groups are projected to raise over $300 in 2007 to ban hunting rights. Many pro-hunting organizations, such as the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, North American Hunting Club, National Rifle Association, and Safari Club International are raising money and support to defeat the anti-hunting groups attacks against hunting and help create new hunting laws to preserve hunting in the states. For example, the 3-million-member National Rifle Association (NRA) and the million-member member Wildlife Legislative Fund of America (WLFA) continue the pressure on elected officials to pass laws to protect hunting rights (Worsnop 2). One of the concerns for hunters is the harassment from anti-hunting and animal-rights groups. Every hunting season, hunters are annoyed by pesky anti-hunting and animal-rights groups. Personal experiences of mine back this up. For example, hunting for javelina in Arizona, we were surrounded and an animal-rights group banging pots and pans scaring all the javelina near us. It was frustrating because we spent numerous hours trying to find our quarry, only to be harassed by animal-rights activists. We were only trying to help manage the javelina population in Arizona and the animal-rights group did not realized or cared. Another encountered occurred while volunteering for the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. We were working at the hunter check stations checking in game. During the duration of the days of work, we were harassed by an animal-rights group. We were helping out the state collect harvest data to manage the populations more effectively, and the animal-rights group did not care. Harassed by animal-rights group is frustrating and can be a scary situation. After much persuasion and support, legislation finally passed laws against harassment of hunters in the field. Since 1981, the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America has helped persuade 44 state legislatures to pass laws against hunter harassment (Worsnop 2). Hunters have pushed hard at legislation lately, and it is beginning to be successful. For example, on August 17, 2007 President George W. Bush released the order, “Facilitation of Hunting and Wildlife Conservation”. The order directs all federal agencies to facilitate the expansion and the improvement of hunting opportunities, wildlife management, and habit (U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance). This was a great victory by hunters that will ensure more hunting opportunities in America. Even the president and CEO of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance had something to say about the order from President George W. Bush. “The Executive Order is a great milestone for sportsmen and wildlife conservation,” said Bud Pidgeon, president and CEO of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance. “It clearly demonstrates that the President understands the unbreakable bond between successful wildlife conservation and hunting - that sportsmen are the key to abundant wildlife and habitat.” (U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance) The success of recent efforts of the hunting community needs to continue to keep hunting rights in America. Jim Zumbo, a famous outdoor writer for Field & Stream magazine has a guideline hunters should follow when fighting for the right to hunt. Jim Zumbo believes hunters need to be effective by exercising our right to vote, calling our elected officials, and speaking out at legislative meetings. If hunters continue the hard work of convincing people about hunting, hunting will have a permanent home in America.

Works Cited
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Conservation. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. 1 Nov. 2007. < http://www.rmef.org/Conservation/>.
PETA Media Center. "Why Sport Hunting Is Cruel and Unnecessary.” PETA. 2003. 20 September 2007.<http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=53>.
U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance. “Sportsmen Applaud President's Order to Promote Hunting.” U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance. 17 Aug. 2007. 6 Sept. 2007.<http://www.wlfa.org/Read.cfm?ID=2102 >.
Worsnop, R. L. “Hunting controversy.” CQ Researcher 2 (1992): 49-72. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Mesa Comm. Coll., Mesa, AZ. 6 Sept. 2007. <http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1992012400>.
Zumbo, Jim. “Battling the Antis.” Outdoor Life 209 (August 2002): 5(24). Academic Search Premier. Mesa Comm. Coll., Mesa, AZ. 13 Sept. 2007<http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.mc.maricopa.edu/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=13&sid=69aaa63c-04df-4327-9fb2-5057bca250b3%40SRCSM2>.