Management of Wildlife

April 1, 1975 Resolutions

Number: 1975-19

 

WHEREAS, the proper harvest of game and furbearers is an important management tool for the control of their populations; and

WHEREAS, the harvest of game through regulated hunting has from time immemorial provided man with wholesome recreation as well as providing him a source of food; and

WHEREAS, the hunter who has enjoyed such recreation and the additional source of food has also been, by far, the greatest financial contributor to the conservation of these game species; and

WHEREAS, the hunter’s contributions to the management of game species has also provided many benefits to non-game species of wildlife; and

WHEREAS, the pelts of furbearers have been used by man from time immemorial as an additional source of clothing; and

WHEREAS, the use of snares, steel traps, and/or conibear traps are currently the only practical tools known through which pelts can be obtained; and

WHEREAS, all states through their legislatures or their fish and game departments have established laws and regulations to minimize the inhuman aspects of trapping; and

WHEREAS, in recent months some organizations have instigated numerous efforts to prevent the use of guns to harvest game and the use of traps to harvest furbearers; and

WHEREAS, none of these organizations has done as much to conserve and increase wildlife (particularly game and furbearers) as have the hunter and trapper; and

WHEREAS, if the anti-gun and anti-trap proponents were to succeed in their efforts, the most important source of funds toward the management of wildlife would disappear;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual convention assembled March 14-16, 1975, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hereby expresses the belief that anti-gun and anti-trapping organizations should join forces with the sportsmen and trappers of our Nation to:

  1. increase our efforts towards the management of wildlife habitat;
  2. combat the common enemy of wildlife resources, namely, those who are in the process and/or are planning to eliminate wildlife habitat; and
  3. increase research to develop more humane methods of harvesting furbearers.