Hunting is often portrayed as synonymous with conservation, with supporters pointing to financial contributions, population control, and cultural tradition as proof of its importance for wildlife survival in America especially. But while it does generate revenue through licenses and taxes (and serves as recreation or sustenance for many), equating hunting entirely with conservation oversimplifies a much more complex issue. In reality, conservation involves a broader and more nuanced set of strategies that go far beyond the scope of hunting alone.
Click through the following gallery to explore why this ongoing conservation debate matters so much for the future of the environment.