National Geographic Documentary Misses The Mark

In a one-hour, six-segment piece reporting on the pro- and anti-hunting communities in America, National Geographic`s recent special left out some critical benefits that hunting and hunters provide. Ignored were the financial benefits that sportsmen provide to the economy. The sale of hunting licenses, firearms, ammunition, and hunting gear are a boon to many local economies, generating millions of dollars in revenue every year. In fact, through the Pittman-Robertson Act, since 1937, hunters have contributed billions of dollars for the benefit of all wildlife species. These dollars have been used to purchase millions of acres of public land. Aside from the direct financial benefits sportsmen provide, hunting creates and sustains numerous and much-needed jobs for American citizens. Also glossed over was the key role hunters play in wildlife conservation. By harvesting animals in accordance with hunting regulations, sportsmen ensure healthy and sustainable animal populations and sufficient wildlife habitat. While the show did document some of the many benefits of hunting, some of the more important issues were given only scant coverage or were ignored altogether.