Hunting has developed into a powerful industry—one that is devoted to killing more than 100 million animals each year for recreation. Less than six percent of Americans hunt, and the number is shrinking. There are more than five times wildlife watchers than hunters.

Sport and trophy hunting

Blue Boy (left), a Nilgai rescued from a game ranch, and his best friend Boogey graze at the Fund for Animals' Black Beauty Ranch. Photo by Walter Larrimore.

Many hunters now use sport hunting, or killing of animals for recreation, not to acquire food but to recreate and attain a trophy to display in their homes. As the number of American hunters declines, the number of trophy hunters is increasing—although they still only make up a minority of hunters.

Canned hunts

There are about 1,000 U.S. canned hunt operations—private ranches that fence in animals so hunters can more easily kill them. Animals killed in canned hunts are typically raised on domestic game farms or purchased from animal dealers. They may be former exotic pets, animals legally or illegally imported, former circus animals, and “surplus” zoo animals.

The cost can be several thousand dollars. Some canned hunts allow hunters to kill the animals at point blank range. Some use feeding stations to bait the animal, electronic devices to attract or locate animals, and sometimes operators even tie up or drug animals.

Internet hunting

One particularly notorious type of canned hunt is internet hunting, which allows hunters from anywhere around the world to shoot animals via their computers. A gun and webcam is connected via remote control to the hunter’s mouse, allowing him or her to control the weapon.

Contest kills

Alaskan brown bear salmon fishing. These bears are commonly hunted for trophies. Photo courtesy Nels Akerlund Photography.

In contest kills, hunters shoot animals such as pigeons, prairie dogs, and coyotes—sometimes by the tens of thousands. In pigeon shoots, dazed birds are released from traps a few yards in front of hunters, who kill as many animals as possible. There is an extraordinarily high wound rate, and children often wring the necks of wounded birds. Other wounded birds who fly away can take a few hours or days to die.

In prairie dog kills, hunters sit near prairie dog colonies and shoot at them as they emerge from their burrows. And coyote contest kills use electronic calling devices that mimic the sounds of wounded animals or prey, luring coyotes to hidden shooters competing for a prize.

Target practice

Doves are the most commonly killed animals in U.S. hunting, and they are killed in target practice. Sadly, many are wounded and left to die slow, painful deaths. Hunters neither consume doves nor make their bodies into trophies.

How you can help animals used in sport hunting:

• Educate people you know about the harm that sport hunters cause to animals and the environment. Many animal welfare groups provide free leaflets that you can distribute.
• Vote. Nonhunters need to vote on issues dealing with wildlife in their local and state elections. Be sure to register your opinion with your elected representatives.
• Attend state wildlife meetings and get involved in the decision-making process.
• Before you support a "wildlife" or "conservation" group, ask if it supports hunting - many wildlife groups do.
• If you own land, post "No Hunting" signs.
 • Do what you can to ensure that wildlife is safe in your community by promoting the use of nonlethal management.
• Report poachers in national parks to the National Parks and Conservation Association at 1-800-448-NPCA.