How to Talk to Non-Hunters About the Benefits of Hunting

For many, hunting is a way of life. Whether in spring, fall, or winter, you’ll find hunters heading out to the field each season full of excitement and anticipation for the memories and adventures that await. However, the number of American hunters who head afield each year has decreased since the 1980s. The US Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that in 2022 there were 14.4 million hunters in the US, down 13.8% from peak estimates of 16.7 million hunters in 1982. The average hunter is more likely than ever to find themselves talking to non-hunters about hunting. Many non-hunters are supportive of hunting, but that support has been shrinking in recent times. Some non-hunters may even be curious about hunting and want to learn more about it and how they may get started. Here are some ideas to keep in mind on how you can talk to non-hunters about the benefits of hunting.

What drives you to hunt

One of the most important aspects of explaining any activity is the “Why” behind it. In fact, it’s likely to be one of the first questions you get when asked about hunting from a non-hunter. One of the largest misconceptions among non-hunters is that hunting is about killing. It is important to highlight that while killing is a part of hunting, you would have a hard time finding a hunter who says it’s the reason they hunt. Hunters strive to ensure that the animals they harvest do not suffer. Their highest priority is to take clear and accurate shots to ensure the animal is harvested in a quick, clean, and ethical manner. Hunters hold the game animals they pursue in the highest respect and regard, especially since these animals help to feed families and provide a deeper connection to nature.  

Motivations vary from hunter to hunter, but some of the most prominent motivations include hunting for meat, being in nature, hunting for the challenge, hunting for recreation, and spending time with friends and/or family. These motivations are generally well-accepted and understood by non-hunters, with hunting for meat being the most widely supported reason for hunting.

Whatever your reason for hunting may be, make it relatable! Tell stories about hunting with your friends or family members, show off pictures of the scenery in the areas you hunt, or talk about the recipes you make with the wild game you harvest. While the act of hunting itself may not be relatable for non-hunters, many of the experiences and benefits of hunting can be relatable to them.

Funding from hunting

The benefits of hunting are there for all to enjoy, even non-hunters! One of the largest benefits of hunting is its impact on wildlife conservation. Hunting is one of the main drivers of wildlife conservation funding through several different channels. Two important sources of conservation funding from hunting are license sales and the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937. 

Hunting license sales are a direct source of funding from hunters that help benefit nearly all outdoor recreation users. Hunters must purchase a variety of licenses, tags, and stamps to hunt different game animals in their state, and money from the purchase of these licenses helps fund habitat management and restoration, conservation programs for game and non-game animals, and overall improvement of public access areas. A great example of this model is the federal duck stamp program, which has helped the federal government, state wildlife agencies, and conservation organizations purchase and restore wetland habitat to help improve waterfowl populations.

The Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937 has provided billions of dollars in wildlife conservation funding since its inception and has been credited with helping the recovery of numerous wildlife species, including whitetail deer, wild turkeys, pronghorn antelope, and many others. The act imposes an 11% excise tax on the manufacture of rifles, shotguns, archery equipment, and ammunition, and a 10% excise tax on the manufacture of handguns. These tax dollars are distributed to states based on their geographic size, population size, and hunting license sales. The funds are then used by each states’ fish and wildlife agency to help fund wildlife conservation priorities such as research, habitat management and restoration, land acquisition, hunter education, and improving hunting access. Without Pittman-Robertson funds, many states would have an incredibly limited ability to manage their wildlife populations, improve public access areas, and to educate new hunters in safe hunting practices and hunting knowledge.

The connection that was established between the firearms and archery industries and state fish and wildlife agencies with the Pittman-Robertson Act has continued to grow stronger. Learn more from the National Shooting Sports Foundation about how this partnership to fund wildlife conservation has grown stronger through the Partner with a Payer program. You can also check out the video below on how Savage Arms helps to support conservation in partnership with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and you, the Savage Arms customer!

Managing wildlife

Another of the major benefits of hunting is the wildlife management practices that support both game and non-game species. State fish and wildlife agencies often lead habitat management efforts, but many private conservation organizations also provide a significant amount of funding and labor to help improve habitat and manage wildlife. These organizations, such as Delta Waterfowl, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and many others help provide financial support and staff members to assist with habitat management projects. Members of these organizations also volunteer their time and money to assist with wildlife management efforts.

There are a variety of wildlife management practices that may be used to improve habitat, such as prescribed burning of woodlands, restoring dried up wetlands, replanting native wildflowers and grasses, and timber thinning.  These habitat improvements are made to help provide wildlife with better sources of food, water, shelter, and cover to help them better survive and thrive in their environment. These activities do not just benefit animals that are hunted, such as deer, turkey and waterfowl, but also other wildlife such as birds, reptiles, and other mammals. 

Helping the environment

One of the lesser thought of benefits of hunting is its impact in helping the environment. Projects that improve and restore native habitat help the environment of a local area be restored to a healthier state, but there are other ways hunters support the environment. Many hunters and hunting groups, such as Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, advocate a “leave no trace” state of mind when out hunting on private and public lands. This means not only leaving the environment in the way you found it while hunting, but often leaving it better by picking up trash that is found and making sure you don’t leave anything behind. 

New technologies in hunting are also helping the environment, primarily in ammunition. Ammunition companies are continuing to innovate and provide options for non-lead ammunition, such as tungsten, copper, bismuth, and steel. As more of these types of ammunition become available, they provide more options for hunters to use where non-lead shot may be needed to help wildlife or the environment in an area.

Health benefits

Hunting isn’t just an enjoyable activity to provide your own meat, challenge yourself, or spend time with friends and family. It’s also a great way to help your physical and mental health. Hunting provides a great way to exercise, especially when hiking miles in search of an elk in the mountains or a pheasant or quail in a tall grass field. Hunting on public land can be especially good for an opportunity to exercise, as many publicly accessible properties require hiking in to access more quality areas that hold game animals.

The health benefits of hunting also extend to your mental health. Hunting provides a chance to unwind and relax in nature. For many, it’s an opportunity to escape from the busy rush of their everyday lives and take some time to recharge and connect with nature. Some use time hunting alone to reflect and clear their head, while others use it as a time to be with others and share camaraderie in the hunt. 

Lastly, hunting provides a healthy source of fresh meat! Wild game meat is lower in fat and higher in protein than many types of meat that can be found at the grocery store. Plus, some hunters take pride or comfort in knowing that their meat comes from an animal they harvested in the wild. Of course, wild game is also delicious to eat! If you’re looking for the perfect wild game recipe to impress your non-hunting friends and family, check out Wild Table for a list of simple and delicious recipes!

Gaining support for hunting

Declining hunter numbers means it’s more important than ever to talk to non-hunters about hunting. Recent research has shown that the number of Americans who approve of hunting stands around 76%, which is a decrease of 5% (or around 16 million people) from 2021. Lack of support and disapproval for hunting often comes from a misunderstanding and lack of education on why people hunt, how people hunt, and why hunting is important. Talking to non-hunters can help educate them on the benefits of hunting, create a better understanding of the science behind hunting, and even recruit new participants to learn how to hunt! 

If a non-hunter is interested in learning more about hunting, or wants to learn how to hunt, there are a few ways that you can help them learn more. First, if you’re comfortable, offer to be a mentor to them! New hunters often look to experienced hunters to help answer questions and show them the ropes. Being a mentor to a non-hunter who wants to learn more about hunting helps that potential new hunter have a positive experience in learning the right ways to safely, ethically, and responsibly hunt. Youth and adult mentor hunting opportunities can also be found through your state fish and wildlife agency, non-profit organizations like Pass It On! Outdoor Mentors, and wildlife conservation organizations. 

 You can also show interested non-hunters and new hunters resources that will help them get started. Organizations such as the International Hunter Education Association will have information on how to find a hunter education course, and state fish and wildlife agencies and conservation organizations will have information on where to hunt, how to hunt, and information on rules and regulations. If you’re looking for more ways to show the benefits of hunting to non-hunters, check out Hunt For Good. Hunt For Good is an online campaign showcasing all the great benefits of hunting aimed to help educate and inform non-hunters. 

Talking to non-hunters about hunting is important. Whether they are supportive, not supportive, or interested in learning how to hunt themselves, the conversations that you have with non-hunters will help shape their opinions and ideas about hunters and hunting. Helping non-hunters learn and understand the benefits of hunting will help generate further support for wildlife conservation and preserving hunting as we know it now. Plus, you may even find yourself with a new hunting buddy that is ready and eager to learn!