RE: How does hunting affect our environment?
Hi NEWB
Whenever you do a paper -or study, be prepared for the opposite of what you expect. It doesn't always happen this way off course, but its better to be prepared in case it does.
I sense that you think that "hunting" helps the environment, and that you expect to be able to back up your assumption with some hard data - maybe even case studies. A freindly forum isn't always your best recourse in these matters.
One could make a pretty good case that hunting does NOT help, but maybe hurts the "environment". First - you need to define your interpretation of "The Environment". After that, you would be well advised to make a top 10 list of how our hunting seasons HURT the environment first - then work to dispute the findings on the list AND then, finally offer another list of how hunting seasons contribute to the overall state of "the environment".
Some hurdles you will need to overcome:
1. Hunting seasons target one age class, or sex of animal (deer epecially) - and contribute to an out of balanceherd structure.
2. Unlimited or Liberal hunting of certain species - brands these species as "unimportant" in the scheme of wildlife managemnent (red squirrel, woodchuck, coyote, are a couple examples. True enviromentalists will argue "who's to say which species is irrelavent" in the scheme of wildlife management.
3. The "management" of non-native species is counterproductive to the natural biodiversity of the local fauna. Forexample - RingneckPheasant are a non native species of fowl in North America - that is propagated, controlled, and regulated at the expense of the native avian populations.
4. Modern state (and personal)management of timber - tends to encoucarge the harvest of trees prior to "old growth" status. Sure - old growth woods maybe support less deer, foxes, pheasant and other "game" animals than a managed woodlot - BUTold growth woodlands is far more diverse, and natural. Woodland "management" might help the hunting populations - but not encourage the biodiversity that otherwise could be obtained through old growth management.
5. Managment of a species to maximize hunting success ( deer in NY for example) - may not always be the best course of action fot he flora in which they inhabit.
There is 5 anyway.
I just say - don't EVER write a paper without facing the opposition head on. Sometimes they DO HAVE good points, that you will need to address.
If you've ever visited an old growth forest (I mean like 200-400 year old trees in the northeast) -then you will understand that even if "huntable"populations of certain "game" are low - the overall biodiversity of the woods is incredible.
Before you even list ONE good aspect of hunting as it relates to the "environment" you need to define your definition of "the environment" and address the negative aspects of how hunting relates to it - THEN - you can finally point to thePROS - hunting and how it relates to the environment.
Just my late night ramblings on the topic.
FH