2012 North Carolina Graduation Project By: Alex Mense

Topic My topic is the pros and cons of hunting and wildlife management including construction and maintenance of food plots.

Interest I am a hunter. I wanted to learn what the arguments were against hunting to better understand why some people object to hunting.

Driving Question What are some of the justifications for hunting?

Thesis Statement Without hunting an entire way of life will decrease; there will be a massive increase in animal-related car wrecks, an overall decrease in crop yield, a drop in the economy, and an offset of the balance that exists in today’s ecosystems.

Facts Hunting is an important tool for wildlife conservation. The eastern US has been over-browsed for many years. Hunting can be a positive force. In 1991, hunters’ expenditures totaled $12.3 billion.

Wildlife Management Wildlife management is the art of making land produce sustained annual crops of wild game for recreational use. The goal of a good wildlife management project is to… Benefit the health of the ecosystem. Manage population levels. Decrease wildlife damage to crops and landscaping in the area.

What I learned While doing my research I learned there are a lot of very valid arguments for and against hunting and the management of hunt-able animals. Food plots are not always beneficial to ecosystems.

What I learned One argument against food plots is food plots are created for the benefit of 10% on animals in an area while removing habitat for 90% of animals in an area. However food plots and other wildlife management techniques when done correctly can greatly improve the health of the ecosystem on and around the property.

Product For my product I planted five food plots at a farm in Beaufort County North Carolina in June of Due to the extreme drought and Hurricane Irene, these food plots failed. Some flooded while others dried up.

Pictures

Product I decided that it would be helpful to create a brochure to help hunters determine the best plants to include in food plots for the types of soil and climate of eastern North Carolina. I started to work on my brochure after I finished my paper. Most of the time I spent of my brochure was on research of plant types and what environments they grow best in.

Product I did not have a mentor but I do not think that having one would have helped me much because most of the work that I had to do was research.

Successes and Challenges Successes – Plant Growth – Finished the product Challenges – Time Management – Growing Season – Technological problems – Weather/Hurricanes – Travel Time and Distance

Connection In my paper I talked about the positives and the negatives of food plots. For my product I tried to make some food plots with minimal damage to the ecosystem. I also made a brochure to help other people learn about what they needed to do to start their own food plots.

Project Reflection From this project I learned that there are a lot more fact based arguments against hunting then I thought. However it is my opinion that the benefits of hunting and wildlife management far outweigh the negatives. I also learned how to make a better food plot. I plan to continue to make food plots on the land I hunt.

Special Thanks Special tanks to my teachers for keeping me on track with the deadlines. Extra thanks to William Wescott for allowing me to put food plots on his land.

Work Cited United States. US Census Bureau. Hunting Highlights. US Census Bureau. Web. Carmichel, Jim. "Use of High-tech Gadgets Diminishes Hunting Skills." Outdoor Life214 (Apr. 2007): 29. Rpt. in Hunting. Ed. Dawn Laney. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 22 Mar Clark, Ward M. "Hunting Is a Natural, Ethical, and Healthy Undertaking." (2004). Rpt. in Hunting. Ed. Dawn Laney. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 21 Feb "Hunting Plays a Crucial Role in Maintaining Natural Habitats and the Environment."Hunting. Ed. Dawn Laney. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 22 Feb

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