Well, pruddock brought up the fact that we are apex predators suggesting that it's enough reason to rely on us to keep prey animals numbers down. I bought up that hunters in the past haven't been responsible, making me iffy about whether or not the hunters of today would be responsible enough to take care of prey animals but not eradicate them. I certainly hope that they are. I did not know so many hunters were conservationists, so that actually makes me feel better about the whole situation.
Hunters and fishermen are generally speaking some of the most impassioned conservationists in this country. It is us, and those like us, spending money to buy land, and donating it for public use, spending money and dedicating time to keep public lands clean and free of contaminated debris, funding lobbyists and legislation to prevent private ownership of public lands, block developement of habitat, and prevent "conservation groups", like The Sierra Club, from blocking any and all public land use.
We do this because we enjoy the land, and we enjoy the animals. We love what we do, and without the prisitne lands and healthy animals, we would not be able to do it.
Most of your "conservation groups" and "environmentalists" are, in truth, preservationists that would rather do away with all interaction, prevent responsible land use and access, and generally keep humans as far away from the outdoors as possible. They do this because they have very little comprehension of what ACTUAL conservation involves, and it is easier to keep people out than to keep places clean.
But I would still like to see a natural predator take care of prey animals in the wild. It's always depressing to see animals completely eradicated in a certain area.
Go to a National Park, or really, any large expanse of western land. There are wolves, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, and bear all outside my door, all thriving on natural prey. You can also find grouse, sagehen, pheasant, elk, mule deer, big horn sheep, small mammals, small birds, and reptilian prey animals in spades.
I would like to know which animals you are concerned with being eradicated due to hunting in this day and age. *Most* of the endangered species in this country are well protected by the government, and endeared to the hunters. I can't think of anyone that I know that hunts that would DREAM of shooting at a raptor, or taking an animal out of season or without proper permits and tags.
I mean no offense by this at all, but your biggest concerns, as far as I can tell, aren't much of a concern. They are more like liberal "talking points", and environmentalist propoganda. Fear tactics from a whole different perspective, to be honest.
That's nothing against you, or anyone else, personally. Just do a little more research. The information that you are basing your fears and opinions on is outdated and frankly, no longer of any importance, as it is no longer accurate.
I don't mind someone having a different opinion than I do, and I certainly don't wish to tell anyone that doesn't hunt that they are a somehow lesser person for it. I just want you to base your opinions on pertinent information, not outdated scare tactics drummed up from decades ago by some environmentalist group to tell you what you're supposed to feel about hunting.
The real data on predatory reintroductions, and the survival rates of once-threatened species in this country is readily available. The environmental impact reports for most major hunting regions are readily available. The real information is out there. You just gotta look for it, instead of believing what environmental groups are feeding you...
