WMA - Message to Non-Hunters

It seems that as society becomes more “advanced” and modernized we, as a culture, are moving slowly away from nature and man’s roots. We substitute watching outdoor movies for spending time afield; we purchase our beef, chicken, pork, and fish at the supercenter with not so much as a thought about how it came to be so neatly wrapped and presented. We continue to bulldoze woodlots and farmlands for our houses and our malls, oblivious to the effect we have on the wildlife we displace. Quite simply, many of us have lost touch with the realities of life and death; the undeniable truth that for each of us to live something has to die.

We haven’t. We recognize that the expansion and urbanization of our society comes at a price - a price unfortunately paid not by us but by our wild resources. A price paid in the form of habitat loss, of an increase in disease and illness spread by too many animals in close proximity, of an upset in the balance of nature by the loss of natural predators. After all, who is willing to tolerate wolves, bears, and coyotes roaming suburbia, dining on deer as well as pets? Who is willing to give their professionally groomed landscape back to nature? Unfortunately, very few. And by the way, man is also a “natural” predator. We always have been, and we always will be. This leaves us with only one realistic option - regulated, humane sport hunting. We recognize and accept that while we may all be “gatherers” we are not all “hunters”. If we can accept that hunting isn’t your “thing”, are you able to accept that its ours?

We believe:

That mankind has an absolute obligation to mitigate the damage our expansion has inflicted on nature.

That our wild resources demand our attention and our continued efforts at balancing wildlife numbers for the benefit of all species.

That to do anything less, to turn our backs on the problem created by mankind is irresponsible, cowardly, and morally reprehensible.

That the act of humanely harvesting an animal should not be taken lightly, and at the same time should be viewed as a celebration of life. A life given to sustain others, including other species of animals who benefit as nature moves back towards ideal balance.

That attempts to sterilize wildlife, administer birth control, or any of the variety of twisted, unnatural methods that the anti-hunting crowd is dreaming up is an absolute abomination and has no place in nature. The sheer ignorance of proposing to medicate wild animals to prevent a natural occurrence (birth) in an effort to prevent yet another natural occurrence (predation) is mind boggling.

Take a moment to view the images below… this is the result of a “hands off” approach to urban wildlife management. While those who oppose hunting sit comfortably in their homes with the mistaken notion that they’ve “protected” the animals, this is the reality of what they’ve really accomplished. It’s hardly humane, and there’s nothing “natural” about starvation or dying under the wheels of an automobile.