More Hunters take more game, give more money. (Know Hunting).

The National Shooting Sports Foundation reports record numbers of hunters for certain species. For example, in the past 5 years, waterfowl hunters are up 24 percent. Pheasant hunters are up a whopping 32 percent, and turkey hunters now number 2.6 million, double the number in 1985. Deer and elk hunter numbers are also growing significantly. Why is this happening? The answer is simple: populations of waterfowl, ringnecks, turkeys, deer, elk, and other species are at record high numbers.

In 1960 we had 465,000 turkeys, but today the National Wild Turkey Federation estimates there are 5.4 million turkeys in the United States. In 1900 there were 100,000 elk in this country, but today there are over 1 million. Waterfowl hunters took 15 million ducks and 3 million geese last year, and populations continue to grow.

The urbanized theory that more hunters spell doom for wildlife just doesn't hold up under our excellent system of wildlife management. Do non-hunters benefit from the huge wildlife populations cited above? You bet. Consider the license revenues from hunting and fishing in the year 2000. There were 29.6 million fishing licenses sold for $490.8 million. There were 15 million hunting licenses sold for $613.9 million. Though hunting license sales dropped from 15.1 million in 1999 (and fishing licenses also dropped from 29.7 million in 1999), revenues increased. The combined revenues from fishing and hunting license sales was $1.1 billion, and this doesn't include hunters under 16 years of age, or those over 65. This money also doesn't include federal excise tax dollars generated by taxes on hunting and fishing equipment.

The Wildlife Conservation Fund of America reports that hunting and fishing license monies have increased by 19.7 percent since 1995. They also report that when you combine the license fees with federal excise taxes collected and dispersed to the state wildlife agencies, "hunters, anglers, and trappers pay for over 65 percent of America's wildlife management programs." This system works, and the resulting wildlife benefits hunters and nonhunters alike.

Let's Keep Priorities Straight

Newspapers reported that in the wake of the New York World Trade Center tragedy, some PETA members were upset with cleanup crews because concerned citizens were not allowed to enter the rescue area to look for possible orphaned animals. Anyone who watched the rescue efforts in the huge pile of rubble (and we all watched), observed thousands of people very busy trying to find any possible human survivors. They seemed to have their priorities straight.

One rather obvious outcome of the World Trade Center attack will be a decrease in animal-rights terrorist activities. Even though major funding will focus on the national security terrorism threats, the spin-off and bad publicity given terrorism in general will not help those pushing the animal-rights cause via terrorism.

Baiting Controversy Grows

In September, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) approved limited baiting during the hunting season in Deer Management Unit 452, an area where tuberculosis has led to the destruction of 15 cattle herds. It is believed that one way deer transmit the disease is from direct nose-to-nose contact at bait sites. Since the ban on baiting in Unit 452, hunter participation and deer harvests, have decreased. The Commission feels that baiting during the hunting season will encourage more hunters to use the area, leading to a higher deer kill. The theory is that fewer deer will decrease the spread of tuberculosis. The Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) and some biologists question this strategy. Wayne Wood, president of the MFB, believes that one possible outcome of this strategy will be the further spread of tuberculosis. "It's extremely disappointing that the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) is willing to ignore sound science and compromise the state's second largest industry to test a theory," Wood said.

It is a sad commentary on the impacts of baiting if the NRC is correct in its assertion that without. baiting, hunter participation is greatly reduced. All states where baiting is legal for deer should consider the multiplicity of problems that evolve with baiting by large numbers of hunters. Those problems include not only the spread of diseases, but also the loss of hunter ethics, as well as long-term impacts on hunter knowledge and hunter expectations. When hunters come to depend on baiting as a way to harvest deer, then something has gone wrong with our management system.

Do It Right

The Greenwich Sportsmen and Landowner's Association (GSLA) has organized a bowhunt to help Greenwich, Connecticut, solve a major deer problem. Bowhunters John Michelotti (founder of GSLA) and Bob DeLaney (president of GSLA) have organized their bowhunt in such a way that even the most outspoken hunting critics now support the effort. For years Greenwich leaders discussed the problem. Local hunting ordinances were changed to help, then the GSLA consulted with the town Conservation Commission about bowhunting on large tracts of private property within the city limits. The Commission "was impressed with the members' professional approach."

Working in cooperation with the GSLA, the state began a research study of the deer herd in Greenwich. It is believed that data gathered will further substantiate the need for a bowhunt. This past fall, bowhunting was allowed on large parcels of private property in Greenwich. All hunters had to pass a test and take an education course. A walk-in freezer was donated and all meat was given to the needy. Being organized, having a strategic plan, and being professional is the way the bowhunters in Greenwich are doing it right. You can reach them at [e-mail]

SCI Gets New Leader

This past October the Safari Club International (SCI) announced that Peter J. Dart - (yes, the same person who developed the Dart Interactive indoor shooting system) - will become its new executive director. This move will be good for hunting, the SCI, and bowhunting. J. Dart is an experienced bowhunter who has worked in the bowhunting industry for many years. He chaired the Archery Manufacturers and Merchants Organization board from 1998-2000. He also serves on the board of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, supporting the Sportsmen's Caucus in Congress. J. Dart brings to SCI a knowledge of business, politics, and archery and bowhunting, as well as a good relationship with Congress. Good luck in your new job, J.