Wildlife Belongs to the Majority, who are the Wildlife Lovers
From necessity to aristocratic activity to middle class activity
Before the widespread domestication of animals, hunting was a crucial component of hunter-gatherer societies.
As hunting moved from a subsistence activity to a social one, there was emergence of hunting as a sport for those of a higher social class. As game became more of a luxury than a necessity, the stylized pursuit of it also became a luxury. In time, this aristocratic type of hunting lost its roots as a source of food and supplies and was seen as a sporting activity.
Ultimately, the rising middle class adopted the practice and retained its image.
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Commitee to Abolish Sport Hunting
About C.A.S.H.
The mission of C.A.S.H. is to accomplish what its name says in the shortest possible time. Understanding that abolishing hunting entails a process, a series of steps taken and not a single action that would effect our goal overnight, a time frame cannot be established. We hope for building a succession of wins, and if not wins immediately then at least a succession of stirrings of consciousness.
We hope to encourage those who are still silent to speak out, awakening community after community about the heavy hand of state and federal wildlife management agencies. We hope to alter whatever belief still exists that sport hunters are conservationists and champions of the environment to a realization that they are destroyers of wildlife and ecosystems in the narrow and broad sense. Where the natural feeling for wildlife doesn't exist, we strive to engender among citizens outrage that their own rights are violated by legal hunting and that their quality-of-life diminished.
HUNTERS:
· there were 13 million hunters in the United States in 2001
· they constituted 6% or the population
· they spent a $20 billion in hunting related expenditures
WILDLIFE WATCHING
· there were 66 million participants in wildlife-watching in the United States in 2001
· they constituted 30% of the population
· they spent a total of $38 billion in wildlife-watching related expenditures
Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting
Why state wildlife agencies should not advocate hunting and trapping.
Human Dimensions of Wildlife, Rutberg, Allen. 2001
Outline: Representatives of state wildlife agencies commonly advocate hunting and trapping. For at least three reasons, they should not do so.
First, aggressive advocacy of lethal control of wildlife promotes destructive attitudes about nature. Advocacy of lethal control feeds the predispositions of many urban residents to view local wildlife as pests to be exterminated.
Second, advocacy of hunting and trapping undermines agency credibility. Regardless of personal integrity, the budgetary dependency of state wildlife agencies on hunting and trapping license fees automatically raises concerns about their ability to act fairly in the public interest.
Third, advocacy of hunting and trapping fails to address the most serious problems facing wildlife today. Defending hunting and trapping interests diverts agency resources, funding, and attention from the more serious issue of protecting habitat. Promoting compassion towards animals is more likely to build widespread public support for wildlife and habitat protection than is advocacy of lethal control.
See also this fantastic piece by Institute for Animals and Society. This is a wonderful piece outlining the major issues that need to be addressed in reclaiming wildlife management in a way that respects and cherishes wildlife.
Wildlife Platform (draft)
Statement on Conservation Congress from Department Natural Resources, Wisconsin
Organization and History
In 1972, Governor Patrick Lucy signed legislation that legally formed the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (Statute 15.348), to ensure that citizens would have a liaison between the Natural Resources Board and the Department of Natural Resources.
By Statute 15.348, Conservation congress. The conservation congress shall be an independent organization of citizens of the state and shall serve in an advisory capacity to the natural resources board on all matters under the jurisdiction of the board. Its records, budgets, studies and surveys shall be kept and established in conjunction with the department of natural resources. Its reports shall be an independent advisory opinion of such congress.
Statement of Purpose
The Wisconsin Conservation Congress originated in 1934 as a direct results of our state government trying to develop a better method of gathering recommendations on natural resource issues directly from the public. This county-based system of representatives was recommended - and it's still in use today.
We will continue to work toward being more responsive to the needs of the public and strengthen our leadership role in the development of new programs - especially those that will attract youth to appreciate and explore the many wonders of our great outdoors. We will continue to promote proper and necessary resource management - including fishing, hunting and trapping with an emphasis on hunter ethics.
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Statement on Conservation Congress from Alliance for Animals
What is the Conservation Congress?
The Conservation Congress is an advisory body created by Wisconsin law to allow and encourage citizen input in policy making regarding the state's natural resources.
The Conservation Congress is made up of five delegates from each Wisconsin county. Delegates are elected annually by attendees at the Spring Hearings. Although technically an independent body, the Conservation Congress is almost entirely made up of hunters and trappers. Why? Because the majority of individuals that attend the Spring Rules Hearings are hunters and trappers!
As a result, what should be an independent and representative advisory board is an unabashed lobby for the hunting and trapping community. The policies supported and enacted by this entity are wholly an appeal for more opportunities to kill and exploit Wisconsin's defenseless wildlife.
A bunch of hunters, trappers, and anglers get together and vote on issues such as lengthening hunting seasons and increasing the size limit of fish taken. Resolutions are proposed to hunt and trap more animals. Essentially, they spend the evening patting each other on the back for having complete control of the decision making process at the local and state levels.
It is VERY IMPORTANT to attend the Spring Hearings and Conservation Congress meeting. It's worth repeating: the Conservation Congress is almost entirely made up of hunters and trappers. Why? Because the majority of individuals that attend the Spring Rules Hearings are hunters and trappers!
The 83% of us in Wisconsin that do not hunt or trap defenseless wildlife need to take our political voice back. It is WE who should be determining policy in Wisconsin regarding wildlife.
Those of us that enjoy wildlife watching are the majority voice for wildlife.
Those of us that want these sentient creatures to exist free from suffering and exploitation are the majority voice for wildlife.
We've lost our voice and it's time to get it back!
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Example of resolution
RESOLUTION: 130706
Reforming Conservation Congress Voting Format
Fail 24 to 141
The Problem:
Voting on nature is a citizen right.
The current process co-sponsored by the hunting lobby (self-named the "Conservation Congress") and the Department of Natural Resources is flagrantly undemocratic and cumbersome.
Citizens have only a several hour time frame to appear in person to elect candidates and vote on important nature and wildlife issues. Elderly individuals and those who cannot attend are left out of the process. Candidates do not debate the issues publicly and the issues are only those proposed by the hunting lobby. Further, issues are not published to the public at large before the vote. Hunters run the vote and count the vote. Non-hunters are not allowed to place literature at the voting site, but hunters design and create all of the literature having to do with the vote and election.
Whereas non-hunters have not been a part of the voting process, and are unaware of the process or the issues, and whereas the non-hunting environmentalist is reviled and made to feel unwelcome and uncomfortable, Be it Resolved, the Conservation Congress at its annual meeting, held April 10, 2006, recommends that the Dept. of Natural Resources take action to correct this situation by creating a traditional structure of voting with non-partisan candidates running and counting the vote, and use a traditional format of walk-in secret ballot voting after extensive public debates between candidates on the issues so that the public is informed.
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Coyote Hunted in Wisconsin – 2005 survey
Hunted with gun 37,000
Caught in Traps Furbearers 8,500
Coyote – unlimited bag number (can hunt as many as you want to). Coyote season is open all year except for 19 day gun deer hunt.
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Revenues from Hunting and Fishing, Department Natural Resources, Wisconsin.
In Wisconsin, nearly all of the funding for fish and wildlife management is provided through the sale of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, fee's and various stamps. These funds are, by law, deposited in the Conservation Fund, a segregated account to be used for fish and wildlife management related purposes.
2005
Fish & Wildlife Account 49,000,000
Small game license - $18
Trapping - $20
Patron license – $165, includes trapping, hunting and much more
Sports license – $60 , Fishing, Small Game, & Deer Gun Hunting