Will Wright

Billboards like the one above tell us that “hunting is conservation,” but what does that connection mean today and historically? How did hunters and anglers become a political force for setting aside land for wildlife? When have hunters/anglers expressed “instrumental value”—only conserving the elk or rainbow trout they pursue at the expense of wolves or whirling disease? And when have they embraced “systemic value”—caring for the life-supporting systems that undergird their favored species? This course explores the history, politics, and ethics of wildlife conservation to understand how the priorities of hunting/fishing communities change over time.