The Best Hunting Of All Time

Yeah, I know hunting is important. But, why do you think hunting is important?

Hunting is one of the oldest and most important practices in human history. Before it was primarily a sport, it was a way of life, dictating where humans migrated and when. Today, hunting serves many different roles—a challenging recreational activity, a connection to our heritage, a continued food source, a way of immersing ourselves in nature, and many more.

Sure, hunting offers a multitude of benefits.

Whether or not it’s their primary motivation to get out into the field, most hunters do eat what they kill. Game meat is an excellent source of organic nutrition. When you hunt, you’re harvesting locally-grown, free-range meat that is better for the health of you and your family and supports local communities. There are also a lot of game meat donation programs throughout the country that help distribute excess meat from individual hunters to homeless shelters and other food assistance programs.

Hunting is quiet dampness on a frosty morning. Hunting is the suspense of waiting. Hunting is the adrenaline rush of seeing game. Hunting is the ease of camaraderie. Hunting is the familiarity of a good dog.

Give it some more thought. Really think about the question: Why is hunting important? Why is hunting important to you, if you hunt? If you don’t hunt, why do you think hunting is important?

Unfortunately, modern hunting often gets a bad reputation. Many environmental and wildlife activists see it as a barbaric sport in which hunters kill for the sake of killing. The truth is, however, that hunting offers a lot of benefits for the environment, human health and wellness, and society in general. Let’s take a look at some of valuable contributions of this ancient sport!

Hunting, for those of us who choose to participate in this lifestyle, is deeply entrenched in our history. Hunting helps nature and earth in different ways. Whether or not it’s their primary motivation to get out into the field, most hunters do eat what they kill. Game meat is an excellent source of organic nutrition. When you hunt, you’re harvesting locally-grown, free-range meat that is better for the health of you and your family and supports local communities.

There are also a lot of game meat donation programs throughout the country that help distribute excess meat from individual hunters to homeless shelters and other food assistance programs. Hunting also boosts our economy. Hunting provides funding for conservation and wildlife management. Hunting promotes a healthier lifestyle. Hunting strengthens interpersonal relationships, especially with youth.

Contrary to what many anti-hunting proponents believe, legal hunting practices actually benefit area ecosystems and habitats. Overpopulation of animal species leads to food shortages that dwindle prey populations and overwhelm the local ecosystem.

If the end result was all about putting meat in the freezer and nothing else, I’d go to the grocery store and load up on butchered meat, or pay a hunting guide to secure a guaranteed kill. To illustrate this point let me walk you through a few examples I’ve experienced in the field. The vast majority of these end in failure, yet here I am planning my next hunt the day after Thanksgiving.

The hunting industry helps fund environmental conservation efforts, but it is also a business. Hunters spend a lot of money every year buying equipment, clothing, vehicles, and other supplies they need to hunt. They also contribute to local economies when they travel, pay for lodging, eat at restaurants, etc. Hunting supports both small local businesses and large-scale retailers, creating thousands of jobs across the country.

I’ll be the first to admit that at times I find myself forgetting it’s okay for enjoyment to be my primary motivation for hunting. Sometimes I become so concerned with how “outsiders” view the hunting community that I overcompensate on more “honorable” angles. I’m not alone here, and a quick trip down social media lane will confirm.

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