Introduction
Hunting has played an important role in shaping the responsible and conservation minded character of people in the United States. Hunting in the U.S., unlike in Europe and other regions, is available to all citizens. The percentage of those who hunt in the U.S., once very high, has been dropping in recent decades but the total number is still around 10 million and in some sectors the number is growing.
Because the benefits from hunting are numerous and broad, WDFW and hunters in general, want to see active participation in hunting. Major benefits of hunting include the following:
- Hunters have played a very significant role in conservation of the habitat essential for healthy wildlife populations that benefit all those who enjoy the presence of wildlife.
- Hunting families teach safe and responsible behavior to their children and to their communities.
- Harvested game provides a nutritious addition to the tables of many.
- Hunters are a critical element for management of impacts to crops by wildlife.
The Master Hunter Permit Program was developed to:
1) Promote safe, ethical, responsible, and legal hunting;
2) Promote support in the general public for hunting;
3) Promote the highest standards of hunting;
4) Improve landowner-sportsman relations;
5) Engage applicants and participants in volunteer conservation projects that benefit wildlife, wildlife habitat, promote hunting access on private land, and the associated priorities; and
6) Develop a Corps of Master Hunters that can be engaged in addressing highly sensitive wildlife depredation issues.
Master Hunters are role models for the rest of the hunting community and, through their actions act as ambassadors for the Department of Fish and Wildlife.