Why Hunting Has Defined the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

Wildlife conservation in Canada and the United States emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, recognizably distinct from other forms found worldwide. Deemed the "North American Model," it has endured a test of time that has seen dramatic changes in society and the landscape of North America. The Model has also become a system of sustainable development of a renewable natural resource that is without parallel in the world. The authors define key components of the model and discuss the role hunters and hunting had in constructing these components, as well as what implication the loss of a hunting subculture might have on the future of this model.