Texas Hunting Leases

I was surprised when I saw the title of National Geographic Magazine’s Feature article on their website. “Hunters, for the Love of the Land” by Robert M. Poole, is a wonderful story which validates the benefits of hunters and hunting to our wildlife and their habitat.  I have always enjoyed National Geographic’s pictures and stories about the world we live in.  But, I have to admit that I was surprised to find a “pro-hunter” article among pages that most would argue are usually not so favorable to a conservative viewpoint.

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Poole, a hunter himself, writes about the various ways hunting and hunters help the very animals they seek to harvest.  Through the support of scientific research to habitat protection, America’s hunters (and more specifically their dollars and voting numbers) have done more to preserve and restore wildlife then any other group.  This especially includes the so-called environmentalists groups combined.

Traveling across the country, Poole observes how local communities and ranchers still survive on hunting dollars.  Even media-mogul Ted Turner advocates the use of hunting to manage free-range herds of wild game on his large ranch lands.   The article also contains a series of pictures to chronicle the author’s travels.

Looking forward, Poole recognizes the threat of population growth and the urbanization of our youth.  The number of people who hunt are dropping across the country.  And, one can only surmise that this will have a direct correlation to the health and abundance of our wildlife.

Texas is blessed with an abundance of wildlife resources and a population of quality outdoors men and women who are worthy stewards of the lands.  Each year, many of our state’s hunters harvest game to nourish their families and willingly share the excess with others.

One excellent way to spread the wealth of the harvest is by donating your surplus fish and game to organizations that help the needy.  One of the oldest in the state is Hunters for the Hungry and their mission is “to provide a healthy source of protein to Texans who need assistance in obtaining well balanced, nutritious meals.”  Last year, Hunters for the Hungry reported a “banner year” by donating over 175,000 pounds of game to over 90 food assistance providers.  These donations went to single parents, elderly poor, the handicapped as well others who suffered temporary personal and financial setbacks. 

Another great organization founded by an association of hunters is Hunters’ Harvest.  Hunters’ Harvest is a group of people that utilize their skill, expertise and love of hunting and fishing to encourage hunters to donate fish and game to a network of ministries across the state.   Hunters’ Harvest sponsors events like ”Clean out your Freezer Day” with local businesses and hunting organizations in order to collect game for their work.

Hunters can help during hunting season by taking their legally harvested game and fish to participating meat processors and drop off centers listed on their respective websites.  You can also help with your donations by contacting them directly as well.

Hunting season begins in just a few months.  Please take time to visit the websites of these organizations and do two things.  First, make as generous of a monetary donation that you can afford towards their work.  Second, make note of the locations where you can drop off your excess game for the benefit of your neighbors who need it most.  It will do your heart and soul some good!

A recent survey by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife-Associated Recreation reaffirms what we already know.  Outdoor recreation, namely hunting and fishing, is big business.  How big?  How about $64 Billion - if you include wildlife watching, you get that number to $120 Billon.  And the two do go hand in hand as many hunters support the observation of game through their management efforts as well as their license and tax dollars. 

The survey is conducted every five years and has some interesting facts to share.  The good news is that 38% of Americans over the age of 16 enjoy some recreational activity related to fish and wildlife.  That is over 87 million people.  The bad news is that the number of those who hunt is shrinking.  Between 1996 and 2006, there was a 10% drop in the number of hunters from 14 to 12.5 million.  The drop in big game hunters was only 2%, but the big hit came from the migratory bird hunters – down 22%!  Now part of the Duck hunter in me wants to blame it on the fact that most of my baby boomer friends say that they are too old and fat to enjoy putting out 1,000 goose rags or humping it through a marsh with a bag of dekes on their backs.  In reality, we all know it’s the decline in habitat and thus the decline of duck populations that have lead many to give up the sport.

Some other hunting related facts include the following:

• Big game, such as deer and elk, attracted 10.7 million hunters.
• Migratory birds attracted 2.3 million hunters.
• The average expenditure per hunter was $1,814.

I always find it amusing when “animal rights” groups call for the abolishment of hunting and fishing.  But all the discussion in the world won’t add habitat and resources.  And, that is about all these groups have to offer since most of their budgets go towards talk and no real action.  But I will leave this for another blog.