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Should Hunting Be Allowed In America's National Parks?
Should hunting be allowed inside America's national parks? That's the question that the U.S. Senate will soon be dealing with as they debate the merits of HR 4089, better known as the Sportsman's Heritage Act. The controversial bill was passed by the House of Representatives in April and could be coming to the floor of the Senate as well. If it does manage to become a law, HR 4089 would open most of the National Park System to hunting, trapping and recreational shooting.Since their inception, the national parks have been designed to protect America's heritage and natural landscapes, and those protections have always extended to the wildlife that roamed those regions as well. In the past it has taken – quite literally – an act of Congress to allow hunting within a park's boundaries, but with this new bill hunting, trapping and sport shooting could become commonplace.
In addition to the traditional national parks that we all know and love, such as Yellowstone and Yosemite, the park system is made up of a number of other entities as well. These include national monuments, memorials, military and historic parks and more. All of them could potentially fall under the jurisdiction of this new law, allowing hunting in such places as Gettysburg or Valley Forge for example.
The Sportsman's Heritage Act does have specific language written into it that provides for exemptions to the law in parks and monuments specifically. But those exemptions need to be decided on an individual basis, which can be a time consuming and costly affair. Furthermore, the wording of the bill fails to mention the other park units such as memorials, historic parks and the other places mentioned above. In other words, it would encompass each of those places unless they are specifically singled out for exemption.
The National Parks Conservation Association has worked in conjunction with the law firm of Arnold & Porter, LLP to examine the legal ramifications of the bill, and they've found that it could be quite costly as well. HR 4089's approach to opening the park system up for hunting, trapping and sport shooting means that each of the units will have to do their own individual study to determine if they should allow those activities or not. Considering there are 397 units within the system, that could mean a lot of money spent on conducting that research.
The NPCA is also quick to point out that the bill would allow for the use of off-road vehicles wherever they are needed by hunters and trappers to engage in those activities. Most of the parks don't currently allow the use of 4x4's off of pavement, but this would open it up for their use in many other places. Considering the damage that they can do to the environment, their use seems to run counter to the idea of actually protecting these wild spaces.
As a traveler, i personally enjoy exploring the national parks because they are beautiful, serene environments. I can't imagine visiting Rocky Mountain National Park for example, spending hours scrambling to the top of the famous Longs Peak, only to be greeted by gunshots from elk hunters. Or as a parent, can you imagine having to explain to a young park visitor why the vehicle sitting next to yours has a deer strapped across its hood? The parks are places of refuge and in my opinion they should stay that way. There are plenty of other places in the U.S. to hunt and trap, but we should keep those activities out of the parks themselves. If you agree, click here to express your concerns to your local congressman.
The National Parks Conservation Association has worked in conjunction with the law firm of Arnold & Porter, LLP to examine the legal ramifications of the bill, and they've found that it could be quite costly as well. HR 4089's approach to opening the park system up for hunting, trapping and sport shooting means that each of the units will have to do their own individual study to determine if they should allow those activities or not. Considering there are 397 units within the system, that could mean a lot of money spent on conducting that research.
The NPCA is also quick to point out that the bill would allow for the use of off-road vehicles wherever they are needed by hunters and trappers to engage in those activities. Most of the parks don't currently allow the use of 4x4's off of pavement, but this would open it up for their use in many other places. Considering the damage that they can do to the environment, their use seems to run counter to the idea of actually protecting these wild spaces.
As a traveler, i personally enjoy exploring the national parks because they are beautiful, serene environments. I can't imagine visiting Rocky Mountain National Park for example, spending hours scrambling to the top of the famous Longs Peak, only to be greeted by gunshots from elk hunters. Or as a parent, can you imagine having to explain to a young park visitor why the vehicle sitting next to yours has a deer strapped across its hood? The parks are places of refuge and in my opinion they should stay that way. There are plenty of other places in the U.S. to hunt and trap, but we should keep those activities out of the parks themselves. If you agree, click here to express your concerns to your local congressman.
Filed under: North America, United States, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Grady May 31st 2012 9:28PM
Hunting should be allowed. Hunting is MURDER
John Aug 10th 2012 2:28AM
You sir are an idiot at the core of the term. You are suffering from ignorance but stupidity on the subject. I would rather hunt an animal that has lived a free life and harvest said animal for consumption by my family. So many are satisfied with themselves saying why cant you go out to eat or go to a grocery store. As I said the food I harvest lives free. My food is not genetically modified, force fed drugs and animal by product feeds to gain weight as fast as possible, then forced into an assembly line for slaughter and packaging. I will hunt deer in a responsible and ethical manner until the day I die. The deer I harvest have lived far better lives than the beef or chicken in your sandwich from KFC or McDonald's. Good day sir!
bob couchman May 31st 2012 2:17PM
if the animal populatioon is over stretching the available food, then yes . but it should be by archery only to minimize the risk to other park users.
jimmy j May 31st 2012 8:27PM
No way should we allow hunting in the national parks. The parks were set up by Teddy Roosevelt as preserve of our nations resources. Roosevelt a avid hunter and sportsman saw the need for places where nature is allowed to take it course and people, ie men women children are allowed to observe and enjoy a wilderness as it was hundreds of years ago. The core of that promise has been sacrosanct. There has always been pressure from the NRA to hunt in the parks and go after the animals that were once part of promise of preservation for all. Now we have the right set of circumstances where they can get their way a the expense of the nations National Heritage. Right wing conservation backers and big money contributors have the votes to change part of our heritage. Plain wrong. Yes we should be allowed to bare arms yes we should hunt but not in our parks where family's go to vacation. Where children see America as it once was. and Where they should never have a concern for a stray bullet or a loss of the heritage
Dee May 31st 2012 2:21PM
Oh heck no. I don't wanna be shot while riding my horses in a park. It's bad enough not being able to ride in the mountains during deer season.
Jocko May 31st 2012 8:46PM
Would you rather have your kids see an animal torn apart by wolves, or have your campsite visited by a bear at night. Do you carry a gun when you ride horsey in the mountains? If you don"t your a bigger idiot than you portray yourself to be. What if a mountain lion looked at you and horsey as just another big deer, then horsey rears up and dumps you with no gun and a mountain lion looking at you as dinner. Without a gun you would in no time just be a big pile of cat scat. Good luck to you and horsey.
John Aug 10th 2012 2:28AM
So horses have and take precedent over the activities of others? I think not. There are other places to ride during hunting seasons. How do people think parks especially on the state level are funded? Not by horse back riders but by hunters primarily. So much of the license fees are distributed amongst parks and refuges/WMA for the betterment and care taking of the parks. The same could be said of national parks. At least that is what my federal duck stamp I buy every year says.
Christine May 31st 2012 2:23PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
nanci Jun 5th 2012 5:52PM
Then don't go to the parks! that is the risk u take when u go. Deal with it.. I know one of the reason WE go to the parks is to see the bears and the wolfs living the way they should.. FREE .......To all you big bad hunters.....the parks are there to let nature take care of it self. Hunting being safe has NOTHING to do with it.There are many places for u to hunt, leave OUR parks alone! ONE more thing ..IT is gods will if u DIE in a park just as much its his will u die in a car or walking a cross the street..get a GRIP!!!!!!!
Sparky May 31st 2012 2:25PM
Opening the parks when done in an orderly fashion should be safe and simple. The author slants a way to lead some to think all hunters are land abusers, just waiting to tear up the parks. I am sure he does not mean insinuate that. I don't think anyone will be hunting doves at Gettysburg it would not be safe, everyone I think knows that. I am sure the author understands that hunters for the most part enjoy the lands just like he does. I sure he understand there might be some non-hunters who have been convicted of laying waste to public lands. I am sure the author understands both hunters and non-hunters want to make sure nobody gets hurt and all bases will be covered to prevent that before a single shot gets fired.I think maybe it just didn’t appear that way in the article.
Myers May 31st 2012 8:59PM
I was born and reared in the GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL park and after moving out have been back on a regular basis prior and since, the wildlife are controlled by nature with out hunting so population control is a moot subject. The people wanting to hunt have no thought of other people but only them selves. I myself have hunted and see no need to endanger visitors who enjoy the parks for what they were created for. Most hunters have self respect enough to take care of their hunting area but a few can undo the good that most hunters are. It is my opinion that hunting should not be allowed.
John Aug 10th 2012 2:28AM
This is for the person replying to the one with the common sense approach to the discussion. Just wanted to let you know that the wildlife in the smoky mountains national park is not regulated there in as much as it is regulated by human encroachment. Limited area= smaller number of animals. How many people even know the saga of the demise of the red wolf? It was an inhabitant of the south and southeast. It was the alpha predator of that said portion of the US. Look up wildlife exclusion experiments which are meant to mimic the incorporation of the red wolf back into the ecosystem. If you can understand the results of the experiment, then you will undoubtedly see the continuing need for hunting.
Cheryl Sommese May 31st 2012 2:38PM
No.
chris moser Jun 1st 2012 12:20PM
I disagree. How do expect the animals in the park to be regulated so that they do not starve or destroy the vegitation? Set aside areas less common to tourists could be utilized. Most of the parks land in the west are hardly used by tourists due to thier rugged nature. They could be the set aside for hunting. What you are expecting is selfish!
bonnie May 31st 2012 3:15PM
hunters have a difficult time distinguishing humans from animals as it is--think humans would have better odds in a park?
burt hurt May 31st 2012 9:48PM
Absolutely
Veronica May 31st 2012 3:10PM
No,no, no. I vacation in the National Parks and I don't want to have to plan my trips around hunting season. There are plenty of places to hunt and the animals in the parks should be protected.
Steve May 31st 2012 3:08PM
Wow, a one way monologue. First, Hunting is very regulated and safe with a very small accident rate compared to other outdoor activites. Second, Hunting brings in huge revenues from liscense fees, tag fee's, and the local economy recieves financial benefits. Third, hunting season is typically in the late fall and early spring when most children are in school and adults are working so it is "Off Season" for the typical large crowds. Finally, in today's over populated world, the animal population must be managed. Whether that is buying a local city liscense for your dog or cat, managing rodents in a city, or deer, wolf or elk in a national park. To say no hunting is to say no horseback riding or no hiking. It is an opportunity for someone to practice and do what they enjoy. Do not be prejudice against anything. But work together for everyone to enjoy the parks, have healthy animals, plants and beautiful scenery and be finanically responsible. Huntinyg will bring in ten times the money hikers, horseback riders and campers will bring in. And it will all be managed at the hunters expense while eveyone else enjoys the benefits also.
scott May 31st 2012 3:56PM
the ONLY animal that needs to be managed is MAN!! with man's urban sprawl encroaching on more and more wild space, where are the animals supposed to live?? and what happens when all the wildlife is killed off?..... really no sense going into a national park then, is there? i think the hunter's are the one's who should be hunted, alot of them are just thrill killers, shooting at ANYTHING that moves........
Ted May 31st 2012 8:17PM
To Scott:
Are you really an idiot or are you just attempting to appear that way?
I'm 58 yo and have been hunting since I was 12 yo.
I have never shot any animal that I didn't eat. (Well...., maybe an occasional opossum.)
Often, I have carried out trash that was left behind by the "greenies" and tree-huggers. (Hunters don't normally pack in Skittles and diet sodas.)
Get out of your city condo, get the facts, and get a life.