This Hunting Season Consider Taking the Pledge

NMU Students Urge Local Hunters to Commit to Practicing Safe and Ethical Hunting

Marquette, MI – Over the past few days a group of Northern Michigan University students have started a pledge for ethical hunting. Their goal is to not only encourage hunters to be more conscious of their ecosystem, but also to help change the way others view hunters.

Molly Rinckey of the Environmental Campaigns class urges student hunters to commit to safe and ethical hunting practices by signing personal pledges on campus at NMU. (photo by Cody Huebner)

Coming from a large family of avid ethical hunters and being one myself I fully support what they are trying to do. It is important for hunters to realize that our environment is delicate. If we want to keep on hunting the animals we love and respect so much we also must protect them. Many non-hunters today do not realize that the majority of hunters out there already consider themselves to be conservationists.

Ethical hunting is not all about being environmentally friendly; it is also about hunting wisely and safely. This means not shooting unless you have a clean kill shot. If your shot is not a clean kill you should do the responsible thing and track the animal so you don’t leave it to suffer or you should move onto another animal.

The use of proper equipment when hunting from a stand is also very important. You should always know your stands height limit and wear the appropriate harness. In order to not be wasteful of what Mother Nature gives use you should not shoot if you do not intend to use the entire animal. The most important thing to remember about hunting ethically is to never hunt under the influence. This is how people get hurt and how hunters get a bad reputation.

It’s important to remember that not all hunters out there just want to kill animals because they think it is fun and they can. Almost all hunters have respect not only for nature but for the game we are hunting. By going after more mature game and leaving the younger ones we give Mother Nature a chance to replenish what it has lost. As hunters we must respect the land we hunt on and the animals that inhabit it. If we do not sooner or later the animals we love and respect so much will no longer exist and they will only be part of the stories we tell our children.

For my family and I the woods are our playground and I am sure many other hunters share the same ideology. If we want to keep hunting we must protect our playground. If you are a hunter or even a non-hunter and believe in Ethical hunting I strongly suggest you visit the groups Facebook page (Pledge For Ethical Hunting Practice) and show support by liking it. While you are there take the opportunity to also sign their online pledge that goes up Friday November 21^st to help them preserve our playground for future hunting generations.

Some personal pledges made by student hunters on the NMU campus. (photo by Cody Huebner)

by Cody Huebner

I am a photography major at Northern Michigan University, at lest for one more semester. When I am not out taking pictures or writing articles I am normal traveling, racing motocross, hang out with my two nephews, or studying anthropology. All I want out of life is to travel the world taking pictures, to see and do things others only dream of, and to just experience all that life has to offer.