[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/EW-06-04-12-Hunting-Conservation.mp3|titles=EW 06-04-12 Hunting-Conservation]
I was brought up bird-watching and hunting. These two communities were of one mind in the 1960s. The skills needed to be successful at one endeavor were beneficial to the other. Knowledge of natural history was useful for hunting. Knowing where to find things was useful for bird-watching. Both groups benefited from the protection of wildlife habitat.
But, the ranks of hunters and conservationists have diverged in the past couple of decades. This should not be the case.
During the past year, numerous riders and outright legislation have been introduced in Congress to weaken environmental protection of our natural areas. Lobbyists and special interests have had a field day. Developers want weaker wetland and shoreline regulations, and utilities want weaker legislation controlling air pollution. These groups all preach the dichotomy: regulations cost jobs—do you want economic growth or bunnies?
Birdwatchers are estimated to spend at least $20 billion each year to pursue their sport. And, total spending for outdoor recreation is estimated to exceed $1 trillion each year in the U.S. What outdoor enthusiasts need is a unified and loud voice to hold off the onslaught on the environment that values only tangible and immediate benefits to a select few.
So whether you like fish in your local stream, ducks in the marsh, or migrating warblers in your binocular vision, hunters and birdwatchers should unite around conservation as an issue for the fall election, to make sure our heritage of outdoor recreation is preserved.
Photo, taken on November 15, 2011, Mark Mathosian via Flickr.