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Humans & Hunting-Then & Now By: Josh LaBaw Modern hunting has many forms, motivations, and innovations. Hunting today can be done with a simple no-frills spear, or a finely tuned Marlin 30-06 with all the accessories, and the game being hunted can be just a varied; the reason for the hunt is as unique as the individual. However, this was not always the case, it was simply survival. It was a skill passed on out of necessity so that offspring could live and prosper in the future. Though hunting has changed over the many thousands of years it has been around it is still a modern activity with ancient ties. Every society in human history has had some form of hunting. Many ancient societies and settlements hunted for survival, they followed the herds of animals around the land. Dependent on their meat for food and their hides for warmth, no part was left to waste for it was all valuable. However, there were advanced societies, such as the Egyptians, that would hunt for sport also. The Egyptians had greyhound like dogs, chariots to take them to the animals, and a group of people to hunt with. These are things that may sound quite familiar to the modern hunter today. There is nothing like having a good group of friends, a good dog and the right equipment to make a hunt enjoyable. The ancient societies in Egypt and in North America were very respectful of the land and the animals. They realized that if they were to take more than needed from the land in which the game lived the animals would not survive properly. There was a time after modern man had invented the firearm that some of these values seem to have been forgotten. One infamous occurrence in history was what happened on the Great Planes of the US in the 1800's, where the American Bison was nearly brought to extinction. However, now there are laws in place to try and stop things like this from happening again, but even more important there are organizations and people that care. The things they do for the environments of the animals shows that modern man also acknowledges the need for respecting the areas that are hunted in order to keep hunting around for the future. Education for hunting is essential, especially for the youth. Just as the ancients did with their children passing on safety techniques and how to respect the environments we hunt, are just a few great things to pass on to future generations. We as modern humans have put many things in place to keep the knowledge going forth, but it is up to the individual experienced hunter to still pass on how to acquire the knowledge. Getting children evolved in local clubs or groups, are great ways to educate. Beyond those, taking children out to see how and where to hunt, is one of the most important things one can do. Not only is it a great experience for a child, it is a great way to pass on the ideals of hunting, like conservation, and just the general enjoyment of the outdoors. A child’s positive hunting experience can keep the knowledge going on for generations. Technology has changed the ways of hunting. With the invention of firearms, GPS and cameras, hunting has become more and more efficient. This is the way of the world to see an opportunity to make things faster, more comfortable, and more efficient. This is simply evolution of a sport. These things are not for all hunters but that is the fun of hunting, and part of how the sport is passed on. Knowledge is one thing that can always be passed on as a group and an individual. With the advances in the way modern man lives, it has made hunting no longer a “survival necessity”. That is not to say it is not something valuable, in fact quite the opposite. It is still something we have to preserve, and reflect on from time to time remembering the long ancient history it has in the history of the humans, and what it means to you in your life today. Josh LaBaw
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