Throughout history, people have depended on wildlife for survival: as a source of food, clothing, and even tools. Loss of habitat and other factors began to impact many species, and there were no limits on the numbers of animals that could be taken. Once abundant species dwindled, and some became extinct.
By the early 1900s hunters and conservationists rallied to support legislation that would sustain North America's wildlife populations. Hunters, conservation organizations, and states worked together to pass laws in the US to fund wildlife research and conservation efforts through taxes on hunting and the shooting sports.
A list of seven tenets have shaped wildlife conservation and management practices in the US and Canada. The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation has shaped wildlife management practices and significantly contributed to efforts to sustain species. Wildlife species are now monitored, populations are managed, and hunters pay excise taxes on sporting goods contribute billions to support habitat and wildlife conservation annually.
The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation:
Wildlife resources are a public trust
Markets for game animals have been eliminated
Allocation of wildlife is by law
Wildlife may only be killed for legitimate purposes
Wildlife is an international resource
Wildlife policy is science-based
Hunting is a democracy
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