How Markets in Wildlife Meat and Parts, and the Sale of Hunting Privileges, Jeopardize Wildlife Conservation

Abstract: The reintroduction of markets in wildlife meat and parts jeopardizes North America's system of wildlife conservation. This most successful of conservation systems is based on three fundamental policies: denial of economic value to dead wildlife, allocation of surplus wildlife by law, and nonfrivolous use of wildlife. These policies are being undermined by game ranching, market hunting, paid hunting and advertising of hunting as sport or competition, not harvest. Agriculture in Canada advocates raising wildlife for slaughter; in the United States it supports paid hunting. The policy of removing economic value from dead wildlife paid off in a 60 billion service and manufacturing industry based on living wildlife. Some understanding of the historical roots of American wildlife management is vital to nature conservation. Making all citizens de facto as well as de fure shareholders in wildlife deserves broad attention.