Role of Hunting in Wildlife Management

Dr. Kenneth J. RaedekeAffiliate ProfessorUniversity of Washington

Traditional Roles of Hunting

Harvest resources (meat, hides, etc.) Manage wildlife populations Reduce problem species Provide recreational opportunities Economic return to society

North American Wildlife Management Model

Wildlife as a public trust resource Elimination of markets for game Allocation of wildlife by law Kill only for legitimate purpose Wildlife is an international resource Science-based wildlife policy Democracy of hunting

Current Big Game Harvests in Washington State (2008)

Deer 35,040 Elk 6,826 Moose 74 Black bear 2,115 Mountain goat 15 Bighorn sheep 32 Cougar 188

Game Bird Harvests in Washington State (2008)

Wild turkey 5,035 Pheasants 20,000 Band-tailed pigeons 434 Doves 68,735 Ducks 410,000 Geese 74,045 Grouse & Quail 251,472

Economic Value of Hunting(1996 Data)

14 Million hunters in USA Hunters spent $23 Billion in direct expenses Ripple effect of $73 Billion Generated $3.1 Billion in state and federal taxes Created 704,600 jobs nationwide

Resulting in household income of $416 Billion 1% of USA workforce

Washington State Statistics(2006 data)

Hunters 182,000 Days of hunting 2,126,000 Total expenditures $313,134,000 Average $$ per hunter $1,688 Average $$ per Wildlife

Viewer $563

Pittman-Robertson Funding

Hunter initiated tax on firearms and ammunition of 10% in 1930

Generated $2 billion Currently $150 million per year Funds used for wildlife management by

states

Wildlife Harvest Models

Annual surplus model Large mammals Bird populations

Maximum Sustained Yield (MSY) Large mammals (control situations)

Population control model For pest or eruptive populations

Annual Surplus Model

Hunting takes the annual surplus production that can not be supported by the habitat

Based on concept of compensatory mortalityThat is, hunting mortality replaces other forms

of mortality and is not additive

Maximum Sustained Yield Model

Produces the highest harvest from a population

Reduces population to half of carrying capacity of habitat

Based on logistic growth model Used for deer/elk damage problems on

private commodity lands

Maximum Sustained Yield

Control of Wildlife Populations

Snow geese in western USA and Canada White tailed deer in mid-west and eastern

USA Deer and elk on private commodity lands

Why do I hunt?

Family tradition in rural America Challenge of the chase Get out doors and appreciate nature Spend time with friends and family Obtain interesting meat and artifacts Support wildlife conservation

License fees ( $500 per year) Tax on sporting goods

Travel to exotic lands