Magazine Articles

The American buffalo (or bison, more technically) may have been, at one time, the most abundant large wild mammal on earth. The historical references to their immense herds are difficult to comprehend; such is the scale of their numbers and the sheer improbable spectacle the authors of these reports try to convey. Perhaps these images are also difficult for us to understand because they inevitably inspire in the sensitive reader a feeling of great sadness that such a wondrous prospect must now be denied us all, forever.

There are two fundamental questions that from now on must inevitably haunt humanity. The first is: What do we want from the earth? The second question is much harder to define and requires a more nuanced understanding of both the natural world and our basic humanity. It requires us to presume that the natural world is finite and that human beings are no less tied to its rhythms of production and recovery than are the great whales that swim the world's oceans or the carnivores that race their prey across the great grassland plains.

In the past, the hunter naturalist was admired and valued above all others in society, for lives and longevity depended on this key provider. Eventually, those who communicated best with nature were elevated to a priesthood, a class akin to God.  The motivations that valued them for so long are now embedded in the fabric of humanity. As we cannot but love nature, we have no alternative but to admire those who understand her.

The public's perception of the American hunter has changed. Hunters went from being viewed as brutish men in decline to romantic figures who contributed to a sense of American Identity, and to an understanding of the continent itself. By the time of the Civil War, hunting was a signal of progress, having by this time borrowed the sport hunter ideals of European counterparts, many of them aristocrats, and making hunting attractive to men of power and wealth.

Hunting is under siege and the subject of debate the world over. It is clear that modern society no longer implicitly understands why hunters continue the practice. Society, while in the majority not opposed to hunting, certainly has outspoken minorities who wish to see it banned, and a growing number who wish to understand why it should continue. Is it necessary and should it continue?

From its deep history, we find much evidence for hunting's influence on the modern human form and intellect. Many of the things we cherish in our human capacities, from tool making to food sharing, have been strongly influenced by our hunting past. Furthermore, some of our greatest cultural endeavors emerged as reflections of our predatory lifestyle, and of our attempts to understand our role in the natural order of things.

The North American model of wildlife conservation is arguably one of the most successful programs of sustainable resource use ever devised. At the time the first of these two stories was written, it had been virtually ignored by the world leaders and private and public organizations alike. However, the challenge of how to maintain human economies and traditions while continuing to  utilize the world's natural gifts has been a focus of international agencies for decades.

Somehow the humanity that has wreaked havoc on nature is the same humanity that works ceaselessly for her survival. Like hunting itself this societal contradiction reflects man's unending duality. It also provides assurance that our best hopes for nature rise on the currents of our hunting past. To preserve a world of fullness and beauty, we will need to marshal the very best in ourselves.

In this article the author recounts the caribou rut's power and magic. He tells the story of caribou herds converging and the ensuing battle between dominant males.

Our North American system of conservation rests fundamentally upon the principle  that wildlife belongs to the public collectively and is managed by  the state, providence or nation for the collective good. The critical issue within the Public Trust arrangmement is that the use of wildlife by one citizen should not be unfairly advantageous to the individual or disadvantageous to the public at large. However, the issue is anything but simple when private properties are involved.