The following is a newspaper editorial submitted by MSA member, Chris Bennett. It attempts to put to words the reason why we hunt, and to dispel the myth that the ONLY reason why hunting exists is for population control.

As a hunter, I don’t like to see my heritage being simplified and trivialized with the popular assumption that the ONLY reason hunting exists is for population control. (Lamp May 4).

Hunters must stand proud and put to words the true reasons we hunt.

We hunt because it is our heritage. From the times before written history, and into the present, my family tree has counted hunters on every branch. I owe it to my posterity to pass on this sacred tradition.

We hunt because we love nature. Counter-intuitive to many non-hunters is the fact hunters are dedicated conservationists. A recent national survey of adults found, “as a group, hunters are more interested in wildlife issues and contribute more to conservation efforts than the general public … Hunters were more than three times as likely as non-hunters to participate in organized wildlife conservation efforts”. Hunting forces you to step beyond the limits of a mere bystander. Assuming the role of the predator brings you closer to nature than any hike, or canoe trip.

We hunt because it brings joy to our lives. Joy in spending time with your fellow hunters, and spending time with yourself. It is impossible to describe the feeling a father gets seeing his child’s face when he takes his first squirrel or dove.

I spent five months hunting last year and did not take a single deer. The fact that I can’t wait to do it again next season is proof that there is more to hunting than just pulling a trigger. Hunting exists, and should exist, for hundreds of reasons – 300 words in an editorial does not do my heritage justice. The numerous benefits to society that my heritage brings (such as population control of nuisance species) is simply icing on the cake.