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 2011.

• Due to the extreme drought and Hurricane Irene, these food plots failed. Some flooded while others dried up.

Pictures

Pictures

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. <http://www.census.gov/prod/1/gen/interior/hunt.pdf>

Carmichel, Jim. "Use of High-tech Gadgets Diminishes Hunting Skills." Outdoor Life214 (Apr. 2007): 29. Rpt. in Hunting. Ed. Dawn Laney. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 22 Mar. 2011

Clark, Ward M. "Hunting Is a Natural, Ethical, and Healthy Undertaking."www.wildfowling.co.uk (2004). Rpt. in Hunting. Ed. Dawn Laney. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.

"Hunting Plays a Crucial Role in Maintaining Natural Habitats and the Environment."Hunting. Ed. Dawn Laney. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 22 Feb. 2011.

• Educational Exempt from Copyright– This presentation has been prepared under the

fair use exemption of the US Copyright Law and is restricted from further use.

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