As sportsmen and women, we embrace a lifestyle of being connected to the natural world. We enjoy nature’s wonderful bounties and all things wild and wonderful. It is simply more than a lifestyle; it is who we are — it defines us as a group of people.
Many of us, as we grow older, want to simply give back to the lifestyle that has served and guided our lives so well. Through the mentoring of others, volunteering with many of the wonderful wildlife conservation organizations and donating, many find a way to give back.
Whether it be in the form of venison to Hunters Helping the Hungry or in the form of cash to keep the modern wildlife management system funded, when we are asked, we step up.
Not only do we participate, but we pay to participate in our lifestyle, through the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses and through an excise tax on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment, so that we assist in the funding of wildlife conservation programs, habitat, hunter education, research and much more, so that everyone may enjoy the management of wildlife areas, as well as game and nongame wildlife.
This is a simplified description of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act — popularly known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, that was approved by Congress in 1937 — but hopefully, it is enough to at least start to understand the funding source. (Perhaps a full column is required on the subject one day.)
In addition to paying to play, we are also asked to be active, hands-on participants in the wildlife conservation model. We are the right tool in the toolbox, and, to be honest, we are good at our role.
A prime example of this, and one worth discussion, is the recent announcement from our West Virginia Division of Natural Resources that West Virginia’s Big Game Bulletin, which includes harvest numbers for white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear and wild boar for 2023, is now available to the public.
“The Big Game Bulletin is a helpful tool that gives hunters an overview of harvest numbers and trends,†WVDNR director Brett McMillion said.
“These harvest numbers also help our biologists monitor big-game populations and recommend any needed changes in bag limits or season lengths so we can continue to sustain healthy populations of these important species.â€
According to data in the report, buck season harvests have increased over the last five years. Wild boar harvests over the last six years have rivaled the high-harvest years in the 1990s. Harvest numbers for other big-game species and seasons have remained stable.
Highlights from this year’s harvest report include:
109,246 white-tailed deer
12,217 wild turkey
2,830 black bear
142 wild boar
In addition to including harvest numbers for each big-game species, this year’s publication includes harvests by season and county area. Digital copies are available to download at .
Publishing of the Big Game Bulletin is funded by money collected through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and by funds from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act.
Chris Ellis’ book “Hunting, Fishing and Family from The Hills of West Virginia” is available at . Contact him at chris@elliscom.net.
