Experience The Thrill of the Hunt - Outdoors - Hunting

In a world governed by political correctness and live and let live ideologies, hunters may sometimes feel lost in a forest of sprawling cities and concrete jungles. Like Native Americans who realized the significant role that wildlife plays in everyday life, todays outdoor enthusiast recognizes hunting as a vital component to living in tune with nature.

President Theodore Roosevelt, a passionate conservationist and fellow nature enthusiast, knew first hand of the advantages that regulated hunting and fishing bring to wildlife. During the late 1800s, over-zealous hunters who were looking to supply a ravenously unregulated meat and fur market began to severely diminish animal populations. To counter this, President Roosevelt began creating programs aimed at restoring game populations to healthy levels.

Several decades later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed The Pittman-Robertson Act (also called the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act) into law on September 2, 1937. This law established a 10% tax on sporting arms and Ammunition. This act is still in effect; today it channels funds into a trust fund managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that is used for state wildlife restoration and ecological conservation projects.

Simply put, the Pittman-Robertson Act transforms taxpayers money into proven conservation projects. The money sustains numerous programs and with it millions of acres of public land has been purchased, which brings full circle the notion of harmony between nature and society.

And who do you think fuels the Pittman-Robertson Act? Sportsmen. Their dollars fund a significant amount of direct-fee wildlife conservation work, often times more than any other private or public agency.

Today, thanks to legislative initiatives, hunting is an essential component of effective wildlife management. By channeling tax money into numerous conservation activities, outdoor enthusiasts have restored populations of deer, elk, antelope, turkeys, and ducks to record numbers.

In addition to the positive work done with the money raised through hunting and other outdoor activities, the National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates that hunting and sport fishing contributes over $30 billion to the economy each year while supporting over 1 million jobs in the United States.

Here are few more interest facts about the sport of hunting: In 1996, nearly 77 million Americans 16 years old and older participated in fishing, hunting, and wildlife observation. This represents 38% of the U.S. population 16 years old and older. They spent over $100 billion on their activities. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Hunting provides food for people. For nearly a decade, hunters have provided thousands of pounds of game meat through donation programs such as Hunters Sharing the Harvest and Hunters for the Hungry. (National Rifle Association) 85% of American adults agree that hunting has a legitimate place in modern society, 58% were in strong agreement, and 25% moderately agreed. (National Shooting Sports Foundation, Roper and Starch 2000) 62% agree that hunters are the world's leading conservationists. (National Rifle Association) Just 2 deer without predation can produce a herd of up to 35 deer in just 7 years. (HuntingNet) An average hunter spends $1,638 eve ry year on the sport. (NHFDay) Hunting helps manage animal populations resulting in less human/animal traffic accidents. (National Rifle Association)

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