Hunting in the United States - Sports

North American hunting predates the United States by thousands of years, and was an important part of Native American cultures. Native Americans retain some hunting rights and are exempt from some laws as part of Indian treaties.Regulation of hunting is primarily regulated by state law. Regulations vary widely from state to state as to which specific game animals may be hunted. Some states make a distinction between protected species and unprotected species for which there are no hunting regulations. Hunters of protected species require a hunting license in all states, for which completion of a hunting safety course is sometimes required.

Game animals are divided into several categories for regulatory purposes. Typical categories are as follows:

Big game: White-tailed deer, Mule Deer, moose, elk, reindeer (caribou), bear, bighorn sheep, as well as exotic species often found in canned hunts. Small Game: cottontail rabbit, eastern gray squirrel. Furbearers: red fox, mink.Predators: Cougar (mountain lion/panther), coyote. Upland game bird: grouse, chukar, pheasant, Bobwhite Quail, dove. Waterfowl: duck, Canada goose

Hunting big game most often requires a "tag" for each animal harvested. Tags must be purchased in addition to the hunting license, and the number of tags issued to an individual is limited. In cases where there are more hunters than the quota for that animal, tags are usually assigned by lottery. Tags may be further restricted to a certain area. Hunting migratory waterfowl requires a "duck stamp" from the Fish and Wildlife Service, which is similar in concept to a tag.

Taking of animals other than big game is restricted by a "bag limit" and a "possession limit." A bag limit is a maximum number of a specific animal that an individual can harvest in a single day. A possession limit is a maximum number of a specific animal species that can be in an individual's possession at any time.

Guns used in hunting are also regulated. Regulations for big game hunting often specify a minimum caliber for firearms. The use of rifles is often banned for safety reasons in areas with high population density. Specific seasons for bow hunting or muzzle-loading black powder guns are often established to limit competition with hunters using more effective firearms.

Hunting in the United States is not associated with any particular group. In fact, most Americans support legal hunting, but relatively few Americans actually hunt. At the beginning of the 21st century less than 10% of the population actually hunted.

Regulation of hunting within the United States dates from the 19th century. Local hunting clubs and national organizations provide hunter education and help protect the future of the sport by buying land for future hunting use. Each year millions of dollars in federal excise taxes are distributed to state agencies to support wildlife management programs. A key task of Federal and state park rangers and game wardens is to enforce laws and regulations related to hunting, including species protection, hunting seasons, and hunting bans.

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