Hunting In Modern Culture

Hunting has existed since before recorded history. It has been a key part of shared culture throughout the world since the first animals went in search of food. President Theodore Roosevelt is often considered a great hunting icon, having founded the Boone and Crockett Club, one of the most prominent organizations behind creating the rules and regulations of hunting, in 1887. There was once a time when the most common interaction between man and animal was the hunt, whereas now animals have a vast array of places in society, including pet companion and spectacle—ultimately, animals are acknowledged to now have more importance than meat. However, hunting is no longer commonplace in modern culture. It is now our social norm to consider hunting …show more content…
Rather, the opposite is more likely. Decades ago in New Jersey, Whitetail Deer were declared a protected species, and their hunting was banned. Not long afterwards, the population exploded. These deer exhausted the food supply not only for themselves, but for other animals in general (Gibbons). With their habitat nearly destroyed, thousands of deer starved to death in the wilderness of New Jersey. An article written last year by Mark Blazis stated that, “Reduced deer collisions, diminished incidence of Lyme disease, and mitigated floral and habitat damage are all part of the underappreciated contribution of our local sportsmen” (C10). Essentially, because of something as simple as deer hunting, less deer wander into roads and get hit by cars, damaging the vehicles and creating road hazards. Because of the decrease in animals, less disease is brought into the general populous and there is less habitat destruction. It is also important to discuss the direct risk to human life and safety. Many people misunderstand the concept of hunting predators. Predators are commonly viewed as something we cannot hunt, an animal that should not be tamed by man. This is simply wrong. Without the regulated hunting of certain predators, humans are at risk. The population of Black Bears, for example, has grown by over 320% in the last fifty years (Von Drehle, 41), and according to wildlife biologist Maurice Hornocker, “There may be more mountain lions in the west than there were before European settlement.” In an article published by USA Today, it is cited that residents have started complaining about bears wandering into the cities in Oregon, where their hunting is restricted. Meanwhile, in California, where the hunting of mountain lions is illegal, there have been actual deaths as a result of their hunting (12A). The article continues to discuss attempts made to curtail these animal intrusions into cities