Hunting is a great source of revenue for each state and for different businesses. Hunting also has relaxation and environmental benefits. Hunting is not cheap, especially deer hunting. For deer hunting, no matter what deer season, hunters need a weapon, camo or blaze orange, a license, land, a place to stay, a deer stand, and some hunters use decals, or deer calls to help lure the deer in. There are certain requirements for clothing and choice of weapon depending on which deer season- archery, firearm, and muzzleloader- hunters choose to hunt.
Deer hunting is a great way to relax, and spend time with family and friends. It allows a person to enjoy peaceful time outdoors, and not have to worry about stressful daily chores. “It [hunting] offers relaxation and affords quality time with family and friends. Whether in a deer or duck blind, farm field or ridgeline, hunting provides a peaceful, fun setting where people re-connect with each other and with nature” (Economic Source of Hunting in America). Sitting in a deer stand allows a hunter to watch the wildlife, and enjoy nature.
In 2011, Minnesota generated approximately $725 million from hunting (Ashe). Hunting is a great source of revenue for Minnesota and businesses throughout the state. “They [hunters] not only purchase hunting gear, trucks and boats; they also fill their gas tanks and coolers. They stay at motels and resorts. They buy hunting clothes ... On average, each hunter spends $1,896 per year on hunting, which is 5.5% of the typical wage earner’s annual income” (Economic Source of Hunting in America). The deer hunting seasons in Minnesota are bow, rifle/shotgun, and muzzleloader. Deer hunters that hunt more than one deer season have to purchase a license for every season. There are consequences for not having a license corresponding to the season a person is hunting. During archery season, hunters usually wear camo to blend in with their surroundings, so deer are not as likely to see them. During shotgun/rifle and muzzleloader seasons, hunters have to wear blaze orange because it is a law in Minnesota. If a hunter chooses to archery hunt, and then hunt another season, they are likely to buy both camo and blaze orange clothing (Economic Source of Hunting in America).
Hunting is also good for small towns because hunting takes place in rural areas where there is woods or big grassy planes. Small towns do not usually have too many tourists throughout the year, so hunting helps to bring business to these small towns. Hunters are likely to stop in a small town and buy something, like groceries, clothing, or a hunting license. Stores in small towns stock up on food, beverages, and clothing during the hunting season to prepare for the flood of hunters (Economic Importance of Hunting in America).
A source of food for deer is vegetation in the woods. When deer populations are high or above normal, they eat the vegetation down to the roots, so it is not able to grow back. “At high population densities deer can greatly alter the appearance and ecology of forest vegetation” (Rawinski). In one case, a fence was constructed, so deer could not get in to eat the vegetation. There was way more vegetation in the fence than the area surrounding the fence. This shows that deer are one cause of vegetation being destroyed. Deer hunting allows the deer population to decrease, and not have one area overpopulated by deer.
Unfortunately, deer do not eat invasive vegetation. This allows to the invasive vegetation to flourish, while native vegetation diminishes. “Tree species especially palatable to deer, such as economically valuable oaks, are not regenerating while other species resistant to deer browse, like beech, flourish” (Schulser). The problem can be solved by putting up fences, so deer cannot get in and eat the vegetation. Also, keep the deer population low, so that deer do not destroy too much vegetation.
Not only do deer ruin vegetation in the woods, but they also affect the bird population and other species who rely on vegetation for survival. Some wildlife may eat vegetation like deer, or use vegetation for shelter. “Beyond the impact on specific trees or other plants, deer can significantly influence wildlife habitat by altering the forest’s composition and structure. For example, in a forest where the understory has been largely eaten by deer, habitat for birds requiring a thick understory will decline” (Schulser). Keeping the deer population low will help to prevent the vegetation from being destroyed even more than it already is which will help increase the bird population.
If someone needs a way to relax, try deer hunting! Every year a hunter has to buy a hunting license, food, and anything else they want for hunting that year, which helps the Minnesota economy and businesses throughout the state. Deer hunting helps the environment by keeping the number of deer consuming vegetation low, which will help prevent the vegetation from being destroyed more than it already is. Thick vegetation helps increase the bird population. The next time you or someone you know goes deer hunting, remember, they’re helping to keep the deer population contained, which will help prevent environmental problems from occurring. Deer hunting will also help keep the economy flowing.
Works Cited
Ashe, Dan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-
Associated Recreation . December 2013. 24 November 2014.
International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Economic Importance of Hunting in America.
2002. 24 November 2014.
Rawinski, Thomas. Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. Impacts of White Tailed Deer
Overabundance in Forest Ecosystems: An Overview. June 2008. 24 November 2014.
Schulser, Tania. Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology. Ecological Impacts of High Deer
Densities. 15 August 2004. 24 November 2014.