Why Do We Have Hunting Laws?

During the 19th century, many game animals were hunted nearly into extinction. Buffalo were reduced to about 800 head, and the beaver was almost wiped out. Elk, deer, and pronghorn had been reduced to a fraction of their original number.

Hunting Laws Protect Wildlife

To conserve wildlife for future generations to enjoy, wildlife management laws:

• Regulate hunting seasons to limit hunting and avoid nesting and mating seasons.
• Limit hunting methods and equipment.
• Set “bag” limits on the number of animals that can be taken.
• Establish check stations and game tag requirements to enforce the laws.

Hunting Laws Protect People

As well as ensuring the availability of game for future generations, hunting laws:

• Establish safety guidelines for hunting to protect both hunters and non-hunters.
• Ensure adequate funding for wildlife programs by collecting license fees.

Hunting Laws Ensure a Fair Chase

• The concept of fair chase began in the Middle Ages when hunters increased the challenge of sport hunting by setting rules that limited how they took game.
• More recently, fair chase rules were developed to stem public criticism of hunters. An early model was the “fair chase principle” established in the late 1800s by the Boone and Crockett Club, founded by Theodore Roosevelt.
• Rules later banned the use of vehicles, airplanes, and radios; electronic calling; or shooting in a fenced area. Many states have made those rules into law.

Hunting Laws Ensure a Fair Distribution of Game

• Hunters who use primitive firearms, such as bows, have game to hunt.
• Bag limits and seasons ensure that all hunters have an opportunity to bag game.

A substantial amount of funding for wildlife management comes from the purchase of licenses, which annually raises millions of dollars.