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Joshua Gray

AP English 11C

Mrs. Fryske

16 May 2016

Hunting Regulations:

An increasing topic for debate

Hunting regulations are here to stay, whether people agree with them or not. Regulations

have been around as long as the sport itself. Many people state that hunting regulations are not

needed in modern times; However the Department of Natural Resources claims a need for

hunting regulations to maintain the environment, increase the safety for the sportsman, and to

promote respect for private/public property rights.

The Department of Natural Resources otherwise known as the DNR have been

constructing hunting regulations to support all aspects of hunting; to keep populations stable,

sportsmen/women safe and the environment healthy. Some of these regulations consist of

harvest limits, weapon limitations as well as hunting seasons and area restrictions. Although

there are restrictions in place that a few people feel are unnecessary, and in turn they become

unlawful sportsmen or worse poachers (hunters that take animals illegally). The DNRs job is to

help the sportsmen and regulate the use of the wildlife resource. In order to accomplish this

enormous task they have to continue to get rid of restrictions that no longer benefit the sport in

that area. They also revise previous guidelines and add new regulations to best match the need

of the environment or animal populations. The purpose of hunting regulations are to manage

Georgia's game birds and game animals according to sound principles of wildlife management

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and to meet public objectives for use of these renewable natural resources.(Hunting Regulations

Process).

Many of these regulations sole purpose is to help maintain the environment and

everything in it. In areas where the population of a specific species is to high the DNR will raise

the harvest limit until it returns to a stable level, or if the populations drops to low they can

modify the harvest limit to bring the species back to a balanced level. Wildlife management in

the form of hunting and trapping is designed to bring animal populations to an economically

healthy level for the amount of space they have. To do this national and state wildlife groups

collect data on population size and ecology to determine the pricing of licenses, length of

harvesting seasons and the kill/trap quota for each species in their jurisdiction. (Environmental

Benefits of Hunting EcoHunts). Another threat to the environment is the spread of diseases.

The rate at which the diseases spread will increase if the population density increases in small

areas. In places with a very high population in a small area diseases to thrive. As their numbers

increase they search for a sustainable food source, which turns them to the natural forage and

domestic crops that are planted by farmers. Densities of 5-10 deer per kilometer show few

effect on plant growth or survival rates. However, densities of 25 deer per kilometer have a

decreased mean leaf area of small herbaceous plants by 26%-20% compared to protected

populations. (Environmental Benefits of Hunting EcoHunts). If the animals begin to damage

the crops the owner can acquire a special permit to protect their crops by hunting out of regularly

scheduled seasons. This in turns also helps the DNR keep the population at a healthy level. With

the animals moving closer to farms and roadways there are a rise in the number of

vehicle/amimal collision, endangering people and wildlife.

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There are about one million car accidents with deer each year that kill around 200

Americans, cause more than 10,000 personal injuries, and result in one billion dollars in vehicle

damage. (Jones). While they are a major concern by many, vehicle/animal accidents are not the

only way people can be harmed from lack of control due to hunting restrictions. Other

regulations are set to increase the safety of the sportsmen/women. There are many gun

restrictions in place to reduce the number of accidents in the hunting world such as, limits on the

types of firearms and ammunition that can be used. There are areas where only certain weapons

may be used during a portion of the hunting season and a completely different type may be used

later on in the season. This makes knowing and following the hunting restrictions very

imperative to the safety for the sportsmen. Safety is not restricted to only weapons but also

clothing like blaze orange, which is also known as hunters orange. It is worn so other hunters

can easily identify them as a person and not as wild game. In a few states there are restrictions to

where the hunter is required to wear a full body safety harness to hunt in stand that are set in

trees, within those states the number of hunting related injuries has decreased. Also there are a

number of diseases that can be spread to humans through contact with infected wildlife. The

DNR states that you should have all game animals inspected to make sure that they are safe for

handling.

Another reason the DNR claims a need for hunting regulations is to promote respect for

private/public property rights. There are places where anyone with a valid hunting license can go

hunt, these areas are known as state or public land. Whereas on the other side there is private

property, where the land owner has the final say in regards to who can or cannot hunt there.

Without property boarders and distinct differences in hunting regulations on private and public

land, it would make it very difficult for the law enforcers to tell whether or not someone is

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violating the law. A private landowner has the right to control the use of his/her private land.

Where no public access exists, sportsmen/women must obtain written permission from the

landowner or lease holder to cross private land for access to public land. It is unlawful for

persons to post or restrict lawful use of public land. (Land Access Rules - New Mexico

Department of Game & Fish). Without differences in regulations and property boarders many

disputes may occur between sportsmen on public or private property, which is why the DNR can

set specific regulations that are different to areas depending on whether they are posted as public

or private land.

Hunting regulations will be around for a long time, and they are here to keep the sport

under control. There are positive and negative thoughts when the topic of hunting regulations is

discussed, while many people feel that these regulations are too strict and unnecessary in modern

day. Others feel that more restrictions are needed to be put into action to help the sport. This

type of discussion is very helpful to the DNR, as it helps them understand the common need for

better regulations; whether that means making new regulations and getting rid of outdated ones

also. The Department of Natural Resources claims a need for hunting regulations to maintain the

environment, increase the safety for the sportsmen, and to promote respect for private/public

property rights. With new regulations put in place every year the preservation of hunting will

continue for generations to come.

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Works Cited

"Deer-car Collisions Increase This Time of Year." USATODAY.COM. Ed. Brent Jones. 1

Nov. 2011. Web. 02 June 2016.

"Environmental Benefits of Hunting - EcoHunt." Environmental Benefits of Hunting -

EcoHunt. Web. 01 June 2016.

"Hunting Regulations Process | Georgia DNR - Wildlife Resources Division." Hunting

Regulations Process | Georgia DNR - Wildlife Resources Division. N.p., n.d.

Web. 12 June 2016.

"Hunting in Florida." Hunting in Florida. Web. 01 June 2016.

"Land Access Rules - New Mexico Department of Game & Fish." New Mexico

Department of Game Fish. Web. 01 June 2016.