1. A Question of Hunting

2. Money for Wildlife Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (1937) – Placed federal tax on hunting license, firearms, and ammunition – Required money be used for wildlife restoration Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act – Required taxes collected on fishing and boating equipment be used for fish habitats

3. Money for Wildlife In 2006, the Fish and Wildlife Services received $364 million from restoration funds In most states, money comes from hunting licenses Money used for… – Purchase and develop land for restoration – Maintain land suitable for wildlife – Conduct research to solve wildlife problems

4. Game vs. Nongame Game Species - can be legally hunted Nongame Species -are not ordinarily taken for sport, fur, or food

5. Return of the Whitetails Many states had no whitetail deer left by the late 1920s because of unregulated hunting After wildlife restoration funds were created, refuges were stocked with deer from other states – Hunting was regulated – Strict enforcement of game laws – High priority on habitat restoration

6. Return of the Whitetails White tailed deer are now most abundant big game species in North America Population ranges from 20-25 million

7. Game Management Humans have become the deer’s major predator Regulated hunting has become a primary method of wildlife management – Survey to determine carrying capacity and population density of habitat – Managers set limits to allow harvesting of surplus game

8. To Hunt or not to Hunt Days of market hunting are gone – Killing and selling game without regulation However, some states have more animals killed illegally than legally Poaching – Refers to taking of wildlife by illegal method – Mostly done for sport or profit

9. Environmental Challenge: Too Many Deer You are the manager of the 185-Acre Schlitz Audubon Center in Milwaukee. Here is your problem: – The Carrying capacity of the nature center is about 12 deer. During the last 10 years the population of deer has increased from 14 to 50. Twenty-seven fawns were born this spring. The deer are damaging the plants at the nature center. – As Manager of the nature center, you must present the possible solutions to the board of directors. List at least three possible solutions, and give the advantages and disadvantages of each.

10. Logging: Making Clear Cut Decisions