In the last few years I have been seeing many people suggest that certain wildlife laws conflict with the the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. This made me wonder how many people even know about “the Model.” So, I asked my family if they knew about it. No one was able to answer.
The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is a set of principles first created in the 20th century intended as guidance for the management and conservation of wildlife. Early conservationists like Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, and George Bird Grinnell witnessed declines in wildlife species and saw the huge need for management. Instead of following early European-style law, they viewed wildlife as as belonging to the public and accessible for legal use by any citizen.
Below are the seven principles of the North America Model of Wildlife Conservation and how the National Deer Association applies each principle.
Wildlife in the Public Trust
The wildlife belongs to everyone, and the public entrusts government agencies to lead management efforts for the wildlife and their habitat. NDA partners with the public, various government agencies, and other non-profits to help with managing the wildlife and their habitat.
Prohibition on Commerce of Dead Wildlife
It is illegal to sell the meat of any wild animal. This established that the taking of wildlife is for personal use, including feeding ones own family, and is not to be used as a way to gain profit. NDA’s Field to Fork program teaches new hunters how to harvest and process deer for their own food, thereby enjoying this public resource.
Allocation of Wildlife
This gives the public the opportunity and responsibility to improve, create, or modify systems of fish and wildlife conservation and how it is used. Public input helps provide more options for better enforcement from the government agencies to protect wildlife resources.
NDA’s policy and advocacy program strives to keep our members up to date on state and federal policy issues and provide information on how they can prevent or help those issues move forward.
Opportunity For All
It is everyone’s right to hunt, fish, and trap. Giving everyone this opportunity opens the door for the public to find true value in all the outdoor resources we share. NDA’s Field to Fork program is open to any adult non-hunter who wants to learn how to ethically hunt.
Non-Frivolous Use
We can legally take certain wildlife for legitimate purposes (food and fur, in self-defense, or property protection) under strict guidelines. Laws are in place to prevent casual killing, killing for commercial purposes, wasting game, and mistreating wildlife. They cannot be killed just for their antlers, horns, or feathers. NDA promotes ethical hunting practices and the highest respect and concern for all wildlife. We also work with our partners to increase deer donation options to share abundant harvests with those in need.
International Resources
Wildlife and fish freely migrate across boundaries between states, provinces, and countries, therefore they are considered an international resource. There are many partnerships across Canada, the United States, Mexico, and other nations to help conserve these resources.
NDA works internationally to ensure the wise management of deer and wildlife no matter where they live.
Scientific Management
This principle recognizes science as a base for informed decision-making in wildlife management. For example, research that involves tracking wildlife can help us learn the best ways to conserve these resources.
NDA shares and promotes the most reliable science-based guidance on deer and habitat management and follows science to determine the best policies to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting.
The goal of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is to guide anglers and hunters on how best to help conserve fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Key conservation laws such as the Pittman-Robertson Act, Lacey Act, U.S. Endangered Species Act, and many more were built upon the Model’s foundation. As explained in this article, the National Deer Association works hard to include themselves in each aspect of this model, making a more inclusive, and productive environment for deer and humans alike. Other conservation groups such as the Boone & Crockett Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and others also work to make sure this guidance continues into the future.
Without nonprofits such as NDA, state, federal, and tribal agencies, these principles would not have the strong support they do today. For more information on this topic check out the Meateater video below, presented by one of our partners, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.