Each fall many people visit the to hunt for white-tail deer. An animal that is hunted by people is called a game species. The white-tail deer is the most popular game species in the United States. This means that more people hunt for deer than any other animal. There are numerous game species in the Appalachians and these animals have special rules and regulations that protect them and their habitats.

Do you hunt or know a family member or friend who hunts? Hunting is a very popular activity in the Southeast and people have been hunting in the south since people first arrived here thousands of years ago. Early hunters killed white tail deer for food, and clothing. Today, people still hunt for food but they also hunt for sport.

Hunting is an issue that often divides people who care about wildlife. Many people believe that hunting is wrong and that it is cruel to kill animals for sport. Others believe that hunting is a way to connect with their heritage and family traditions. When done responsibly, hunting can help connect people to nature and teach us how to respect the natural world for what it provides for us.

Some argue that hunting is necessary because there are no longer natural predators in the Southeast to help control the numbers of deer that live in the forests. These predators include wolves and cougars. The number of deer that live in a particular area is called a population. If populations are not controlled there can be too many mouths to feed. When this happens deer can become starved and can even damage their own habitat. Deer populations that get too large can also cause disease and parasites to spread. Some of these parasites can cause people to get sick too.

Hunting can play an important role in helping deer by keeping their numbers in balance with the habitat. But hunting is not the only solution to protecting deer populations. It is also very important to protect the habitats for deer and other game species. Destruction of the places where animals live is the greatest threat to wildlife. In this country alone, it is estimated that the destruction of habitat is progressing at a rate of one million acres a year. This means that every year one million acres of land can no longer provide food, water, and shelter for wildlife.

Whether you agree or disagree that hunting is a good thing, it is important that we respect the opinions of others. If you think about it, hunters and non-hunters all agree that it is important to protect wildlife and their habitats. America’s wildlife heritage must be preserved and the wildlife will need all the friends it can get.

If you are interested in hunting remember that is a skill that can take years to develop, so you need to have an adult teach you everything you need to know. Hunting can also be dangerous because it involves firearms. Gun safety is extremely important and you should never handle a gun without careful adult supervision. If you find a gun inside or in the woods stay away from it and immediately tell an adult.

To learn more about hunting and fishing you might want to mark September 23rd on your calendar. This is National Hunting and Fishing Day. You can check out the festivities online to learn about fun activities being planned in your area: http://www.nhfday.org/ These events are family-oriented, hands-on, and fun that everyone will enjoy.