Hunting and Fishing – A Time-Honored Tradition
Hunting and fishing are a time-honored tradition and an important part of the great outdoors. They are essential in conserving wildlife and habitat and influential supporters of a robust outdoor sports economy. On National Hunting and Fishing Day, join us in recognizing the role of sportsmen and women as stewards of our nation’s resources. Take someone for their first hunt or fishing trip, and celebrate these timeless traditions with your family!
Fishing
Fishing is a practice that involves the catching of aquatic animals, usually for food and sport. The word “fishing” is often used interchangeably with “hunting.”
Hunting is capturing and killing wildlife in the wild for food or sport. It can also be used as a tool to control populations of animals or for medical purposes.
Several stakeholders are involved in the conservation and management of marine and freshwater ecosystems. These include regular citizens, fishers, governments, and conservationists.
Sustainable fishing aims to ensure that ocean and freshwater wildlife will remain abundant. It addresses issues such as overfishing, by-catch, and marine pollution.
Hunting
Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wild animals or feral species. There are many reasons for hunting, including subsistence and sport.
The primary motivation for hunting is to obtain food and other materials necessary for human survival or to kill a predator or pest that threatens people or domesticated animals. However, overhunting game animals can also severely affect their population and habitat.
In some instances, overhunting can lead to the extinction of specific animal populations or a decline in their overall population size. This is because overhunting can disrupt the natural balance of an ecosystem.
Humaneness
A humane hunt is a method of hunting where the animal is not subject to unnecessary pain, stress, or anxiety. This can be achieved using techniques like bleeding out, icing down, and electrocution.
Similarly, a humane fish kill is a method of killing a fish that minimizes the level of pain and suffering experienced by the fish. This can be achieved by ensuring the catch is killed instantly or using a stunning method.
The term ‘humaneness’ is often used to assess the welfare impact of pest animal control methods (Sharp and Saunders, 2008). Generally, a more humane approach will have less of an effect on the animals it targets.
The term ‘humanity’ is also often used to describe the qualities of people. It refers to basic ethics of altruism derived from the human condition and symbolizes love and compassion towards others.
Safety
Hunting and fishing are two of the most popular recreational activities in the world. These pastimes are fun and provide a connection with nature, but they can also be dangerous if safety precautions are not followed.
A safe, responsible hunter always points the muzzle of their firearm in a safe direction and keeps their finger outside the trigger guard until they are ready to shoot.
Never cross fences, climb trees, or jump in ditches with a loaded gun.
Regardless of how experienced you are, safety is your responsibility when fishing or hunting. Ensure you have a life jacket, learn to swim, manage your boat, and keep up with the latest regulations.
Hunting-related shooting incidents have decreased significantly since the first Hunter Education (HE) courses were created in 1955. HE courses teach students the safe, responsible use of firearms and other weapons.