employed by livestock organizations, wiped out the prairie wolves and 

 greatly reduced the numbers of cougars and bears. Now, these abuses, 

 which were stimulated by economic concerns, have been substantially 

 checked by a growing public appreciation of the many values of pred- 

 ators and of wildlife in general. 



In recent times, demands for alligator hides by makers of shoes, 

 wallets, and other leather goods, attracted poachers and illegal hide 

 buyers to the swamps and bayous of the South. Their activities continue 

 to be curbed by aggressive state law enforcement and by bringing the 

 alligator under the protection of a long-standing federal law that pro- 

 hibits interstate commerce in wildlife products taken in violation of state 

 laws. Thus, state and federal conservation forces were united in correct- 

 ing the problem. 



From the standpoint of wildlife conservation, hunting must be judged 

 solely on its effect on the species of animals hunted. The fact that many 

 designated game species have increased steadily in numbers over the 

 years, in spite of growing numbers of hunters with greater mobility, 

 testifies to the effectiveness of scientific wildlife management. It also 

 shows that the carefully regulated modern hunter has no long-term 

 negative effect on the comparatively few wildlife species he pursues. 

 This conclusion is based on research in many regions of the country. 

 Therefore, with properly regulated sport hunting having no adverse 

 effects, the decision of whether to hunt or not to hunt is a matter of 

 personal choice. 



As with any large representative group of Americans, there are among 

 hunters a minority who fail to abide by the laws and rules of sportsman- 

 ship. These people, when their activities are not checked by effective 

 law enforcement and the disapproval of the public — especially by 

 sportsmen — can have undesirable impacts on local wildlife populations 

 and create unfavorable reactions to hunting and hunters. 



WANTED 



HOODLUM HUNTER 



OUT OF 

 HUNTlKie 



12 



