To foster a positive discussion of how to best protect the environment, students from the University of Hartford in Connecticut “set their sights” on a virtual roundtable event on the subject of hunting.
“We had a great turnout of 17 students tuning in to learn how hunting contributes to conservation efforts,” explained Kevin Shaffer, the event organizer and a CFACT Driessen Fellow intern at the university. “Many people think hunting hurts the environment, but it actually is the opposite. Funds from permits and supplies go directly to fund conservation.”
Indeed, according to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: “through state licenses and fees, hunters pay $796 million a year for conservation programs.”
Additionally, RMEF reports that “hunters pay more than $1.6 billion a year for conservation programs. No one gives more than hunters! Every single day U.S. sportsmen contribute $8 million to conservation.”
So before anyone goes vilifying any hunter for somehow destroying the environment, they should realize many parks and conservation efforts like species rehabilitation and habitat restoration wouldn’t exist without hunters.
“We can’t wait until we are allowed to do in person events again,” Kevin said. “But until then, events like this one over Zoom will have to do. I’m proud to continue to bring a discussion on sound environmental policy to my school!”
