Highlights Archives
Hunting Heritage in Wisconsin: An Old Tradition
Hunting has long been an autumn tradition in Wisconsin, a state where people have hunted as long as humans have lived here. From the Native Americans who first settled Wisconsin and the French-Canadian traders, lured westward by the promise of fur, to today's modern hunter, hunting has played an integral role in our state's history and culture.
For thousands of years, people hunted primarily for survival but, beginning in the late 19th century, hunting became more of a sport for many people in the United States. In Northern Wisconsin, resorts and private clubs like the Big Sand Lake Club catered to people interested in hunting and fishing. The state established parks and recreation areas that allowed people to freely hunt and fish. Local hunting clubs and conservation organizations sprang up to preserve wildlife and animal habitats while protecting hunting traditions.
Wildlife ecologist Aldo Leopold was also an avid hunter whose book Game Management (1933) provided the fundamentals for the scientific control and restoration of wildlife populations. Hunting formed a central part of Leopold's perception of effective and ethical resource conservation.
Writer and hunter Gordon MacQuarrie was one of Wisconsin's most famous and beloved figures. His personal stories of fishing and hunting in Wisconsin brought the outdoor experience to life, inspiring generations of hunters. Wisconsin Historical Society Press author Keith Crowley's biography, Gordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck Hunter chronicles the career of the first full-time, professional outdoor writer in America and his life as a journalist, storyteller, family man, outdoorsman, and conservationist. Read an excerpt from the book.
While hunting may be more commonly associated with men, many women hunt too, as evidenced by this 1933 picture of Dane County's youngest huntress, Ruth Brissee. Another female Wisconsin hunter, the naturalist, ornithologist, and all-around adventurer Frances Hamerstrom, wrote a number of books on wildlife and hunting, including My Double Life: Memoirs of a Naturalist.
Today, hunting continues to be a fall ritual in many families. A wide variety of game animals are hunted, but the whitetail deer is the most popular game animal in Wisconsin. While most people can survive without the meat they get from hunting, hunting allows people to continue to gather food and to interact with nature in an often social and communal way. Animal management authorities like the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also rely on hunters to help control certain animal populations, either for herd reduction or disease eradication. Moreover, the money raised from hunter and angler licenses and fees helps to fund recreational facilities and natural resource management programs that benefit hunters and non-hunters alike.
And if you need a recipe idea for this year's hunt, come to the Wisconsin Historical Museum on November 15th for Wisconsin Wildfoods: 100 Recipes for Badger State Bounties.
:: Posted October 31, 2005
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