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Hunting is a significant subsistence and recreational activity in the United States. Regulation of hunting began in the 19th century. Some modern hunters see themselves as conservationists. American hunting tradition valuesfair chase, which values the balance between the hunter and the animals. A 2006 poll showed that 78% of Americans support hunting. 6% of Americans have hunted. Hunting is most popular in the Midwest.
Nearly $200 million in hunters' federal excise taxes are distributed to support wildlife management program, hunter education, and safety classes. Many hunting groups participate in lobbying the federal and state governments. Regulations vary widely from state to state.
North American hunting pre-dates the United States by thousands of years and was an important part of manypre-Columbian Native American cultures. Native Americans retain some hunting rights and are exempt from some laws as part of Indian treaties and otherwise underfederal law[1]—examples includeeagle feather laws and exemptions in theMarine Mammal Protection Act. This is considered particularly important inAlaskan native communities.
Regulation of hunting within the United States dates from the 19th century. Some modern hunters see themselves asconservationists and sportsmen in the mode ofTheodore Roosevelt and theBoone and Crockett Club. Local hunting clubs and national organizations provide hunter education and help protect the future of the sport by buying land for future hunting use. Some groups represent a specific hunting interest, such asDucks Unlimited,Pheasants Forever, or theDelta Waterfowl Foundation. Many hunting groups also participate in lobbying the federal government and state government.
Each year, nearly $200 million in hunters' federal excise taxes are distributed to state agencies to support wildlife management programs, the purchase of lands open to hunters, and hunter education and safety classes. Since 1934, the sale ofFederal Duck Stamps, a required purchase for migratorywaterfowl hunters over sixteen years old, has raised over $700 million to help purchase more than 5,200,000 acres (8,100 sq mi; 21,000 km2) of habitat for theNational Wildlife Refuge System lands that support waterfowl and many other wildlife species and are often open to hunting. States also collect money from hunting licenses to assist with management of game animals, as designated by law. A key task of federal and statepark rangers andgame wardens is to enforce laws and regulations related to hunting, including species protection,hunting seasons, and hunting bans.
Hunting is primarily regulated bystate law; additional regulations are imposed throughUnited States environmental law in the case ofmigratory birds andendangered species. Regulations vary widely from state to state and govern the areas, time periods, techniques and methods by which specific game animals may be hunted. Some states make a distinction betweenprotected species and unprotected species (oftenvermin orvarmints for which there are no hunting regulations). Hunters of protected species require ahunting license in all states, for which completion of a hunting safety course is sometimes a prerequisite.
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Typically, game animals are divided into several categories for regulatory purposes. Typical categories, along with example species, are as follows:
Hunting big game typically 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 typically limited. In cases where there are more prospective hunters than the quota for that species, tags are usually assigned by lottery. Tags may be further restricted to a specific area, or wildlife management unit.Hunting migratory waterfowl requires a duck stamp from theFish and Wildlife Service in addition to the appropriate state hunting license.
Harvest of animals other than big game is typically restricted by a bag limit and a possession limit. A bag limit is the maximum number of a specific animal species that an individual can harvest in a single day. A possession limit is the maximum number of a specific animal species that can be in an individual's possession at any time.
Gun usage in hunting is typically regulated by game category, area within the state, and time period. Regulations forbig-game hunting often specify a minimumcaliber ormuzzle energy forfirearms. The use of rifles is often banned for safety reasons in areas with highpopulation densities or limitedtopographic relief. Regulations may also limit or ban the use of lead inammunition because of environmental concerns. Specific seasons forbow hunting ormuzzle-loadingblack-powder guns are often established to limit competition with hunters using more effectiveweapons.
Hunting in the United States is not associated with any particular class or culture; a 2006 poll showed seventy-eight percent of Americans supported legal hunting,[2] although relatively few Americans actually hunt. At the beginning of the 21st century, just six percent of Americans hunted.Southerners in states along the eastern seaboard hunted at a rate of five percent, slightly below the national average, and while hunting was more common in other parts of the South at nine percent, these rates did not surpass those of the Plains states, where twelve percent ofMidwesterners hunted. Hunting in other areas of the country fell below the national average.[3] Overall, in the 1996–2006 period, the number of hunters over the age of sixteen declined by ten percent, a drop attributable to a number of factors includinghabitat loss and changes in recreation habits.[4]
Varmint hunting is an American phrase for the selective killing of non-game animals seen as pests. While not always an efficient form ofpest control, varmint hunting achieves selective control of pests while providing recreation and is much less regulated. Varmint species are often responsible for detrimental effects on crops, livestock,landscaping, infrastructure, and pets. Some animals, such as wild rabbits or squirrels, may be used for fur or meat, but often no use is made of the carcass. Which species are varmints depends on the circumstance and area. Common varmints may include variousrodents,coyotes,crows,fox, and feralhogs. Some animals once considered varmints are now protected, such aswolves. In the US state ofLouisiana, anon-native rodent, thecoypu, has become so destructive to the local ecosystem that the state has initiated abounty program to help control the population.
The principles of thefair chase[5] have been a part of the American hunting tradition for over one hundred years. The role of the hunter-conservationist, popularised by Theodore Roosevelt, and perpetuated by Roosevelt's formation of theBoone and Crockett Club, has been central to the development of the modern fair chase tradition.Beyond Fair Chase: The Ethic and Tradition of Hunting, a book by Jim Posewitz, describes fair chase:
"Fundamental to ethical hunting is the idea of fair chase. This concept addresses the balance between the hunter and the hunted. It is a balance that allows hunters to occasionally succeed while animals generally avoid being taken."[6]
WhenInternet hunting was introduced in 2005, allowing people to hunt over the Internet using remotely controlled guns, the practice was widely criticised by hunters as violating the principles of fair chase. As a representative of theNational Rifle Association of America (NRA) explained, "The NRA has always maintained that fair chase, being in the field with your firearm or bow, is an important element of hunting tradition. Sitting at your desk in front of your computer, clicking at a mouse, has nothing to do with hunting."[7]
The Pope and Young Club, a US-based organization promoting bowhunting, declares that a fair chase shall not involve the taking of animals under the following conditions:
Animals such asblackbuck,nilgai,axis deer,fallow deer,zebra,barasingha,gazelle and many other exotic game species can now be found ongame farms andranches inTexas, where they were introduced for sport hunting. These hunters can be found paying high fees to take trophy animals on these controlled ranches.[9]
