The anti-hunting activists are at it again. This time, their outrage is aimed toward former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler.
Cutler recently posted a picture on Instagram (@ifjayhadinstagram) of his most recent black bear hunt in Montana. Of course, this enraged all the keyboard warriors to start spewing hate and commenting on subjects they have done little to no research about. Honestly, the comments on his post are laughable — some in support, a lot against, and then there are the ones just in the comments for entertainment purposes.
However, what most of these anti-hunters don’t realize is the conservation behind hunting and what taking this black bear really means.
Hunting conservation refers to the practice of managing wildlife populations through regulated hunting to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of both the animals and their habitats. In Montana, hunting black bears plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.
A 2011 study showed Montana to have one of the largest black bear populations in the lower 48 states with an estimated 13,000 bears currently roaming the state. Montana is also one of the fastest-growing states in terms of population, which will potentially lead to the increased possibility of human-bear conflict.
Having controlled hunting regulations helps to prevent these conflicts and control the number of bears in certain areas. When these conservation methods are followed responsibly and within established regulations, it contributes to the overall conservation efforts and helps maintain a healthy ecosystem.
It is important to note that when wildlife populations such as black bears are left unmanaged, it can negatively affect other variables like wildlife habitat, food sources, plant communities, and even other wildlife species.
Furthermore, the positive impact hunting has from an economic side is unmatched. The primary source of funding for U.S. wildlife management agencies comes from hunting. The licenses, tags, permits, and stamps sold from hunting go back to fund wildlife agencies to ensure the longevity of wildlife populations throughout the country
Going forward, instead of rushing to the comment section to lash out with hatred because you don’t like the picture you see, first learn about it. Maybe there’s more to what we hunters are doing than just going out and harvesting animals with no respect for the bigger picture at hand.
