Another class assignment was to write a rhetorically sound persuasive piece. I have been hunting for close to ten years now and this is a sport that is very important to me. It is a huge tradition in my family and is sometimes seen as very controversial. I argued its benefits to society and hope it stays around for many centuries to come.
The hunting of game animals in America such as the White-tailed Deer or the Wild Turkey sometimes comes under fire as being a cruel or unsporting practice. One can look around in a around in a traffic jam to see a bumper stickers stating, “Hunting is not a sport” or “Hunting: The coward’s sport”. Many strong emotions are brought up and thoughts concerning the ill treatment and killing of animals. On the contrary, the facts seem to support that hunting game animals in America provides many benefits to society and supports the conservation of wildlife. Every spring and fall, millions of American hunters take to the woods in search of game animals. This is overall a very respectable practice and hunting is one of the most humane ways to kill an animal for food.
The hunting of game animals use to be part of everyday survival here in America. Before the advent of stores and supermarkets, the survival of one’s family depended on having a successful hunt to provide meat. In fact, hunting is still of paramount necessity to many smaller and isolated towns in Alaska and many of America’s western states. However, hunting is a controversial topic because it is seen as a recreational activity in more developed and populated areas. Many critics are concerned with safety and some view hunters as being cruel to animals. When the facts
are considered though, hunting emerges as a very positive sport if conducted responsibly.
One serious problem facing Pennsylvania as well as many other states is the over-population
of certain animal species like White-tailed Deer who lack a natural predator. There is simply not
enough food in our ecosystem to support all of these animals. This being said, deer stray into farmer’s crops and wreak havoc on corn and other plants that many rely on for their livelihood.
This lack of food causes thousands of deer to die slowly from starvation and diseases. Another alarming trend is automobile accidents caused by deer that have strayed into more populated areas. Pennsylvania has on average 35,000 automobile accidents and 10 deaths caused by deer (“Deer Overpopulation”). So far the most effective form of population control for deer has proven to be hunters. It is the cheapest method because hunters will do it for free and even pay to hunt.
The only other option has been to pay game commission officers to kill or sterilize deer. This has proven to both be an ineffective and costly population control method.
From a monetary standpoint, hunting is a very important part of any State’s economy,
especially Pennsylvania. Annual hunting-related retail sales alone in Pennsylvania amount to around $1.2 billion dollars. “It is also interesting to note that the additional $2.4 billion in federal income tax revenue generated by hunters could cover the annual paychecks for 100,000 U.S. Army Soldiers” (“Economic Importance…”). All hunting related tools, clothing, supplies, and weapons are all taxed by the government. This sport also tends to be a huge business in more rural areas and creates jobs. Many stores stock up their inventory on commonly used products before
major hunting seasons because of high demand and profits increase drastically in these areas. These tens of billions of dollars in retail sales, tens of billions of dollars in taxes, and thousands of jobs created annually are all a direct result of hunting and those who participate in it.
With national and childhood obesity figures on the rise, it is nice to note that some game animals are among some of the healthiest meats to consume. Deer meat or venison is one of the healthiest red meats available. “Ounce for ounce, it has a lower fat content and fewer calories than any other meat. It also contains none of the additives or antibiotics that are commonly found in livestock” (“Venison: A Healthy Red Meat”). This is a huge health benefit when most people these days are looking for organically raised meat. On the contrary, a serving of beef contains nearly twice the amount of saturated fat that the same size serving of venison contains (“Venison: A Healthy Red Meat”). This venison though is difficult to find in stores due to USDA inspection procedures and the fact that raising deer (who are also really good at jumping over fences) are not as profitable for farmers as raising beef cattle. The only viable way to enjoy the health benefits of venison is through American hunting. Many hunters are more than happy to share as well. A common joke among those who hunt is to put some venison stick out at a party or social gathering for guests to eat. Many end up remarking that it is absolutely delicious and are quite surprised to find out that they are consuming deer meat.
Another concern that many critics voice is the perceived dangerous nature of this sport. Some are weary of many people taking to the woods loaded rifles, shotguns, or bows thinking that this an easily brewed recipe for disaster. An activity that uses firearms would seem to be inherently more dangerous than other popular sports. The statistics involving injuries and fatalities in sports seem to tell a different story though. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, “Hunting with firearms has an injury rate of 0.05 percent, which equates to about 1 injury per 2,000 participants” (“Hunting is Safer…”). These safety statistics sounds pretty good, but let us compare these to the statistics for injuries in other sports and activities. According to the same report, you are 11 times more likely to be injured playing volleyball, 25 times more likely to be injured while riding a bicycle, or 105 times more likely to be injured playing tackle football. The same set of data also goes on to explain that most of the injuries in hunting are falls from elevated areas or injuries involving transportation. Firearms accidents only comprise a small percent of these already low numbers of accidents. Some people think though, “If this is the case, then why do we see reports of hunting accidents on television?” The news media outlets are essential in the delivery of information and deserve much respect, but they do realize that violence sells papers and attracts viewers. They are much more likely to report extensively on a story of a rare firearm related hunting accident then report that a local teenager and his grandfather had a successful day in the woods and returned home safely. The presence of a negative story does not mean that hunting is very dangerous and does not represent the population of hunters as a whole.
As a final point, hunting provides a time to connect with nature, family, and learn some
skills that have gone by the wayside in modern society. The North Carolina Game Commission comments that, “Hunters often reveal that being in nature provides time to clear the mind. In the woods, there is no rush, no schedule, and no deadlines; nature moves at its own pace. Hunting
offers a unique opportunity to interact with the natural world that is not possible through any other means” (“Benefits of Hunting”). It is nice to take a step back and relax sometimes. This does not mean that harvesting a deer is a measure of a successful hunting trip either. A successful day in the woods is one where a hunter is able to enjoy nature and everyone returns home safely. In many areas, hunting is an age old family ordeal where family members spend a whole day of quality time together. The Monday after Thanksgiving (Opening day of deer season) is often regarded as a very
important day. Schools are usually off for this regional holiday and many businesses close as well.
One television show recently that shows the family aspect of this sport is A&E’s “Duck Dynasty”. It is
interesting to see resurgence in popularity of a sport that sometimes gets a bad rap.
Hunting in this country has its opponents who sometimes see it as cruelty to animals or an
archaic and barbaric “redneck”activity. The facts however, show numerous benefits to the sport and its positive impact on America. The rich tradition and history of hunting in the United States should be continued due to its economic, social, and wildlife conservation benefits. Having a respect for the sport, yet realizing it is not for everyone, should remain as sacred and prized as it was to our pioneer ancestors.
Works Cited
"Benefits of Hunting: Hunting Matters!"
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. NCWRC, n.d. Web. 27 Mar.
2013.
< http://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Hunting/Documents/Benefits%20of%20Hunting-Hunting%20Matters!.pdf>.
"Deer Overpopulation." Nature Tourism in
Northwest Pennsylvania. Crawford County Visitors Bureau, n.d. Web. 27 Mar.
2013.
< http://naturetourism.allegheny.edu/essay_deeroverpopulation.html>.
Economic Importance of Hunting in America. Washington, DC: International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2002. Print.
"Hunting Is Safer Than Golf and Most Other Activities." National Shooting Sports Foundation. NSSF, 5 Dec. 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.nssf.org/newsroom/releases/show.cfm?PR=120511.cfm>.
Lallanilla, Mark. "The Benefits of Hunting:
Locked and Loaded." About.com Green Living. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
< http://greenliving.about.com/od/greenlivingbasics/a/Benefits-Of-Hunting.htm>.
"Venison: A Healthy Red Meat." Life Line
Screening. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
< http://www.lifelinescreening.com/health-updates/healthy-you/healthy-cooking/venison-healthyred-meat.aspx>.
The hunting of game animals in America such as the White-tailed Deer or the Wild Turkey sometimes comes under fire as being a cruel or unsporting practice. One can look around in a around in a traffic jam to see a bumper stickers stating, “Hunting is not a sport” or “Hunting: The coward’s sport”. Many strong emotions are brought up and thoughts concerning the ill treatment and killing of animals. On the contrary, the facts seem to support that hunting game animals in America provides many benefits to society and supports the conservation of wildlife. Every spring and fall, millions of American hunters take to the woods in search of game animals. This is overall a very respectable practice and hunting is one of the most humane ways to kill an animal for food.
The hunting of game animals use to be part of everyday survival here in America. Before the advent of stores and supermarkets, the survival of one’s family depended on having a successful hunt to provide meat. In fact, hunting is still of paramount necessity to many smaller and isolated towns in Alaska and many of America’s western states. However, hunting is a controversial topic because it is seen as a recreational activity in more developed and populated areas. Many critics are concerned with safety and some view hunters as being cruel to animals. When the facts
are considered though, hunting emerges as a very positive sport if conducted responsibly.
One serious problem facing Pennsylvania as well as many other states is the over-population
of certain animal species like White-tailed Deer who lack a natural predator. There is simply not
enough food in our ecosystem to support all of these animals. This being said, deer stray into farmer’s crops and wreak havoc on corn and other plants that many rely on for their livelihood.
This lack of food causes thousands of deer to die slowly from starvation and diseases. Another alarming trend is automobile accidents caused by deer that have strayed into more populated areas. Pennsylvania has on average 35,000 automobile accidents and 10 deaths caused by deer (“Deer Overpopulation”). So far the most effective form of population control for deer has proven to be hunters. It is the cheapest method because hunters will do it for free and even pay to hunt.
The only other option has been to pay game commission officers to kill or sterilize deer. This has proven to both be an ineffective and costly population control method.
From a monetary standpoint, hunting is a very important part of any State’s economy,
especially Pennsylvania. Annual hunting-related retail sales alone in Pennsylvania amount to around $1.2 billion dollars. “It is also interesting to note that the additional $2.4 billion in federal income tax revenue generated by hunters could cover the annual paychecks for 100,000 U.S. Army Soldiers” (“Economic Importance…”). All hunting related tools, clothing, supplies, and weapons are all taxed by the government. This sport also tends to be a huge business in more rural areas and creates jobs. Many stores stock up their inventory on commonly used products before
major hunting seasons because of high demand and profits increase drastically in these areas. These tens of billions of dollars in retail sales, tens of billions of dollars in taxes, and thousands of jobs created annually are all a direct result of hunting and those who participate in it.
With national and childhood obesity figures on the rise, it is nice to note that some game animals are among some of the healthiest meats to consume. Deer meat or venison is one of the healthiest red meats available. “Ounce for ounce, it has a lower fat content and fewer calories than any other meat. It also contains none of the additives or antibiotics that are commonly found in livestock” (“Venison: A Healthy Red Meat”). This is a huge health benefit when most people these days are looking for organically raised meat. On the contrary, a serving of beef contains nearly twice the amount of saturated fat that the same size serving of venison contains (“Venison: A Healthy Red Meat”). This venison though is difficult to find in stores due to USDA inspection procedures and the fact that raising deer (who are also really good at jumping over fences) are not as profitable for farmers as raising beef cattle. The only viable way to enjoy the health benefits of venison is through American hunting. Many hunters are more than happy to share as well. A common joke among those who hunt is to put some venison stick out at a party or social gathering for guests to eat. Many end up remarking that it is absolutely delicious and are quite surprised to find out that they are consuming deer meat.
Another concern that many critics voice is the perceived dangerous nature of this sport. Some are weary of many people taking to the woods loaded rifles, shotguns, or bows thinking that this an easily brewed recipe for disaster. An activity that uses firearms would seem to be inherently more dangerous than other popular sports. The statistics involving injuries and fatalities in sports seem to tell a different story though. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, “Hunting with firearms has an injury rate of 0.05 percent, which equates to about 1 injury per 2,000 participants” (“Hunting is Safer…”). These safety statistics sounds pretty good, but let us compare these to the statistics for injuries in other sports and activities. According to the same report, you are 11 times more likely to be injured playing volleyball, 25 times more likely to be injured while riding a bicycle, or 105 times more likely to be injured playing tackle football. The same set of data also goes on to explain that most of the injuries in hunting are falls from elevated areas or injuries involving transportation. Firearms accidents only comprise a small percent of these already low numbers of accidents. Some people think though, “If this is the case, then why do we see reports of hunting accidents on television?” The news media outlets are essential in the delivery of information and deserve much respect, but they do realize that violence sells papers and attracts viewers. They are much more likely to report extensively on a story of a rare firearm related hunting accident then report that a local teenager and his grandfather had a successful day in the woods and returned home safely. The presence of a negative story does not mean that hunting is very dangerous and does not represent the population of hunters as a whole.
As a final point, hunting provides a time to connect with nature, family, and learn some
skills that have gone by the wayside in modern society. The North Carolina Game Commission comments that, “Hunters often reveal that being in nature provides time to clear the mind. In the woods, there is no rush, no schedule, and no deadlines; nature moves at its own pace. Hunting
offers a unique opportunity to interact with the natural world that is not possible through any other means” (“Benefits of Hunting”). It is nice to take a step back and relax sometimes. This does not mean that harvesting a deer is a measure of a successful hunting trip either. A successful day in the woods is one where a hunter is able to enjoy nature and everyone returns home safely. In many areas, hunting is an age old family ordeal where family members spend a whole day of quality time together. The Monday after Thanksgiving (Opening day of deer season) is often regarded as a very
important day. Schools are usually off for this regional holiday and many businesses close as well.
One television show recently that shows the family aspect of this sport is A&E’s “Duck Dynasty”. It is
interesting to see resurgence in popularity of a sport that sometimes gets a bad rap.
Hunting in this country has its opponents who sometimes see it as cruelty to animals or an
archaic and barbaric “redneck”activity. The facts however, show numerous benefits to the sport and its positive impact on America. The rich tradition and history of hunting in the United States should be continued due to its economic, social, and wildlife conservation benefits. Having a respect for the sport, yet realizing it is not for everyone, should remain as sacred and prized as it was to our pioneer ancestors.
Works Cited
"Benefits of Hunting: Hunting Matters!"
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. NCWRC, n.d. Web. 27 Mar.
2013.
< http://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Hunting/Documents/Benefits%20of%20Hunting-Hunting%20Matters!.pdf>.
"Deer Overpopulation." Nature Tourism in
Northwest Pennsylvania. Crawford County Visitors Bureau, n.d. Web. 27 Mar.
2013.
< http://naturetourism.allegheny.edu/essay_deeroverpopulation.html>.
Economic Importance of Hunting in America. Washington, DC: International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2002. Print.
"Hunting Is Safer Than Golf and Most Other Activities." National Shooting Sports Foundation. NSSF, 5 Dec. 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.nssf.org/newsroom/releases/show.cfm?PR=120511.cfm>.
Lallanilla, Mark. "The Benefits of Hunting:
Locked and Loaded." About.com Green Living. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
< http://greenliving.about.com/od/greenlivingbasics/a/Benefits-Of-Hunting.htm>.
"Venison: A Healthy Red Meat." Life Line
Screening. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
< http://www.lifelinescreening.com/health-updates/healthy-you/healthy-cooking/venison-healthyred-meat.aspx>.
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