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Martin Chagnovich
Professor Hull
English 2010
9/25/15
Synthesis Assignment
In recent discussions about hunting, a sensitive topic for many people, the issue on
whether or not it is harmful to wildlife and their habitat has grown. On one hand, organizations
such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), whos played a big part in the $300
million raised each year in conservation and hunting, claims hunting is essential to the wildlife
and their habitat. On the other hand, a group called The Humane Society of the United States,
who also raises a lot of money each year towards animal rights and trying to stop hunting says it
is a cruel cowardly act that pushes animals towards extinction. Aside from these two viewpoints
there are some such as the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources that believes the wildlife is
valuable to everyone and works to manage and protect the states wildlife and conserve wildlife
habitat. They regulate hunting and enforce the laws while also studying and helping to preserve
animals and the areas they inhabit. With many different perspectives on hunting it shows the
topic is very complex and emotional for some and that there might not be one specific viewpoint
that is completely correct.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is an organization that is centered on protecting
wildlife and their habitat as well as the heritage of hunting. Since 1984, the Rocky Mountain
Elk Foundation has permanently protected more than 1,700 square miles of prime habitat for elk
and other wildlife across the country (rmef.org, 2014). The RMEF is able to make all of this and
much more possible from volunteers, donations, and becoming members; most all of which are

sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts. Volunteers play a vital role in the RMEF as they get their
hands dirty in the field to provide reliable water sources for wildlife, tear down and roll up old
fences, and help put banquets together for fundraisers.
The Humane Society of the United States has been around for 60 years now and strives to
put an end to animal cruelty, and promote animal rights, safety, and protecting animals where
they already exist. The HSUS provides hands-on care and services to more than 100,000 animals
each year as well as educates and trains local organizations (humanesociety.org, 2015). The
HSUS also provides five affiliated animal sanctuaries and medical centers for animals and
wildlife.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources which is part of the Utah Division of Natural
Resources is a state wildlife agency that based off of studies on the land and wildlife makes and
enforces the rules and regulations for hunting and fishing each year. Their goal is to preserve
wildlife and their habitat by creating a healthy population for all animals so that they can live
comfortably in their environment and remain in balance.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundations view on hunting is clear after researching their
websites and reading articles in their magazine, Bugle. They show that sportsmen are some of
the biggest contributors to wildlife and conservation and that with proper regulation, hunting,
along with the actions of organizations like the RMEF, wildlife and their habitats continue to
grow and become healthier and more stable each year. For example, The RMEF uses their
advanced habitat mapping technology (GIS) to identify and prioritize the most crucial elk winter
and summer ranges, migration corridors and calving areas (rmef.org, 2014). The winter is the
hardest thing on animals especially those in colder climates. By preserving crucial land those

animals need to survive in the winter the foundation and its partners work to get conservation
easements, land donation, and land acquisitions. These all help to ensure the safety of the habitat
in which the wildlife need to survive by stopping further building on crucial land and also
restoring pieces of land to a become habitable. Hunters then use this time during the designated
season to manage herd population and utilize the healthy lean meat that elk and other wild game
animals provide.
The HSUS seeks to build a humane society that will move toward protecting and
celebrating wildlife, and will develop humane solutions to wildlife conflicts through innovation
(humanesociety.org, 2015). Now celebrating 50 plus years the Humane Society still holds to
their beliefs and stands for animal rights and assisting to protect their habitat. Though they may
not claim to be anti-hunting, many supporters would object to most anything that has to do with
hunting. This may range from what type of ammunition is used to what types of animals are in
too high of risk to be hunted. The HSUS tries to work with the Game and Fish departments in
many states to outlaw forms of hunting that they find un-fit and unethical such as bear hunting
with hounds and game bird hunting.
Clearly the RMEF has many viewpoints and beliefs that differ from those of the HSUS.
While the RMEF sees hunting as a beneficial aspect for wildlife and their habitat, the Humane
Society sees it as a detrimental bearing towards animals that unnecessarily harms them and can
push species along with the ecosystem to extinction. Animal rights supporters claim, "The vast
majority of species that are hunted waterfowl, upland birds, mourning doves, squirrels,
raccoons, rabbits, crows, coyotes, etc. provide minimal sustenance and do not require
population control" (Kar, 2011). While the sportsmen see hunting for these species of animals as
part of their heritage and a huge contributor to conservation as all of which require a license to

hunt as well as ammunition and other gear which then part of the profits go back to those animals
care. Despite the two conflicting views there seems to be one thing in common and that is both
groups want to protect our wildlife. The UDWR seems to fit both points of views and tries to
make sure everyone can get what they want out of Utahs wildlife.
The Utah Division of Wildlifes main goal is to protect and ensure the numbers of all
wildlife in the state. With biologists designated to specific animal species they are able to collect
yearly data on various types of animals and determine what steps need to be taken to establish a
healthy population that will be able to coexist in Utahs diverse habitats. From there regulations
can be established for hunting and proper management can occur based on what the biologists
data says that they have collected. For example, the state biologists in the past few years have
noticed a threat beginning to occur in Mule Deer herds, specifically in the fawns. They claim,
If the weather is mild, and the habitat is good, then removing predators could increase the
number of fawns that survive, (Division of Wildlife Resources, 2015). So they then began a
bounty on coyotes in attempt to lower the pressure on many of the prey species. Now, a few
years after beginning the bounty, Mule Deer numbers are said to be on the rise. This varies from
what those of the Humane Society claimed when they said coyotes provide minimal sustenance
and do not require population control but once again, all of the sides claim to be looking out for
all animals and taking care of their environment.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation does have a strong position in the sense that they
clearly show that they take active steps towards preserving wildlife and their habitat and they do
this as hunters and sportsmen. This emphasizes their point that the heritage of hunting does play
a vital role in conservation. However, for those who have not been properly introduced to
hunting or have not experienced it may not have an understanding of exactly what it stands for.

This is and always will be a difficult affair to overcome to convince non-hunters about huntings
importance.
As for the Humane Society of the United States, they also raise a lot of money towards
wildlife safety and animal rights. There seems to be a lot of pathos in their writings and
statements. The use of very strong words such as extinction, painful, and unfair to create
an emotional connection towards the animals benefitting their views. To a further extent, I
believe this also hurts them because much of the information that is posted seems to be said out
of emotion and less factual based evidence. This can come across as uneducated or immature to
some.
Lastly, the Division of Wildlife based off of my reading and interpretation centers their
regulations and laws off of factual evidence that the biologists collect while in the field
throughout each year. They also stand with goal to ensure there is wildlife for everyone to enjoy
and this I think is a strong trait for themselves because it does make them a credible source.
Something that does reveal a weak spot in the DNRs stance is that a majority of it is sponsored
by sportsmen dollars that they spend when purchasing licenses for hunting and fishing. Some
might believe this causes them to become more bias towards hunters even though they are the
ones who come up with and enforce the regulations on hunters.
In conclusion the RMEF prides themselves in being a strong advocate of hunting and
preserving wildlife and wildlife habitat around the country. While on the other hand the HSUS
stands their ground raising money for animal rights and to put an end to hunting and the good
people say it stands for. Where then theres the DNR that stands for preserving all wildlife for
everyone to be able to enjoy while also promoting a regulated way to manage wildlife

populations. Even though all of these groups along with many more believe in the same morals
such as going to bat for animals and fighting to put an end to illegal activities such as poaching
there is still an immense amount of viewpoints and beliefs making this a very complex topic of
discussion.

Work Cited
Kar, Bill. "Humane Society of the United States: In Their Own Words." Western Outdoor News.
N.p., 2 Dec. 2011. Web. 26 Sept. 2015.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. N.p., 2014. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.
The Humane Society of the United States. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.