My dad always said good hunters are also the world’s best conservationists.
That iconoclastic military veteran and I hunted together for years, and during those times dad taught me to respect and preserve nature.
Whether we bagged anything or not, it was just great spending time together.
But there was more to those quiet moments and cold mornings than just bonding with the “Colonel.” By example, he showed me never to take more than we needed, to claim only what prey we could eat or share as food, and to leave nature as we found it — pick up your trash, extinguish and cover the fire pit, and never, ever mix alcohol with ammo.
When I was on those hunting trips, I felt as though I were a part of nature, not an intruder. That I, too, belonged outdoors and was just another component of the natural cycle.
That’s why I get annoyed sometimes when folks make comments about “blasting Bambi.” It’s not such a big deal when you live in a semi-rural location such as eastern Williamson County, where folks still take pride in FFA, 4-H, horse shows, livestock and farming. However, some of my friends in larger urban areas view hunting as an archaic practice.
But the facts speak for themselves about hunters who follow good practices.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notes hunters through various programs protect and restore habitat for migratory waterfowl and other birds and wildlife. The service also said hunters, sportsmen and sportswomen have spent billions since the 1930s on wildlife preservation through annual payments to state fish and wildlife agencies.
The National Wildlife Federation adds, “Hunters are conservationists. We care about animals, and we play an important role in preserving the land and the habitat for wildlife. We spend a lot of the money on hunting, fishing and outdoor camping that goes to conservation efforts. We do support wildlife conservation and land stewardship.”
The funding provided by hunters ensures that non-hunters, too, get to enjoy public parks, waterways and wildlife preserves.
The pace of life is changing, speeding up, with new tech toys lulling so many into an artificial world of pixels and deep fakes. Hunting, however, is part of an ancient cycle that tells us to slow down, appreciate what’s around us and helps keep the real world in balance.
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