History of Hunting & Fishing in America

History of
Hunting & Fishing
in America

By Nicholas C. Cowey


Hunting and fishing are part of our American culture. Many Americans view these outdoor recreational pursuits as an essential to our way of life. Hunting and fishing are not only satisfying activities, but beneficial to the environment itself. There are also many economic advantages for communities, businesses, and individuals. This study will show the impact hunting has had on the expansion and development of the Western United States. Quite frankly our country would not be the same without hunting and fishing. Hunting and fishing are necessary to maintain a healthy ecological balance in the food chain. Sportsmen are
a major source of funding for conservation efforts through state and local agencies.

A Hupa Indian out spear fishing c. 1923
Photograph by Edward S. Curtis

The earliest form of hunting in America was subsistence hunting, done for the survival of the Native Americans that were the first hunters. Buffalo was the most desired meat of the big game animals. There were an estimated 600 million buffalo in America before the Europeans appeared. The Indians usually killed only what they needed. Sometimes this was not possible, for example when an easy method of killing buffalo is to scare a herd over a cliff. Hundreds will die, but only a few are able to be salvaged and utilized. Whites often killed the buffalo for the hides and left the rest to rot. This was part of the government’s plan to win the war against the Indians by exterminating the buffalo, which was their source of food and shelter. William T. Hornaday and other conservationists saw the need to protect the buffalo before it became extinct. Thanks to preservation efforts, the buffalo population is increasing and is no longer endangered. Some of the hunting exploits of the past were done with no regard for conservation.


Punting was a sport in the late 1800’s that involved a cannon attached to a boat. The cannon was loaded with lead shot like a big shotgun. The hunters would get close to a flock of ducks or geese and arouse them to take flight. Just as they started to take flight, the cannon was fired. The object was to kill as many ducks as possible with one shot. Usually 30-40 birds was a decent shot. What seemed like an endless supply of wildlife in the early years would diminish over time - unfortunately for some species, beyond the point of recovery.


The famous ornithologist and artist John James Audubon killed every kind of bird possible for his collection and for the purpose of making detailed paintings. These paintings are the first detailed color records of the birds in America. Some of these birds are extinct today, but we know what they look like, thanks to Audubon’s paintings. Although it seems harsh to kill so many birds, it was the best way of research in those days. This extensive collection of birds is still important to modern scientists. Audubon even reports killing 6 bald eagles on the Mississippi River in one day and that they tasted quite delicious.

John James Audubon (1785-1851)
Portrait by John Syme in 1826

White-Headed (Bald) Eagle by John James Audubon


The fur trade in North America was a strong influence as early as 1670. Fur trapping companies formed to export furs to Europe. The fur industry was at its highest point during the years from 1800-1840. The demand for furs in Europe was higher than ever for a new style of fashion. The beaver felt hat, especially top-hats, were so popular that more furs were needed than the current trapping areas could provide. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson requested that two men, Lewis and Clark, lead an expedition west to find new areas of beaver country and a route to the Pacific Ocean. The Lewis and Clark expedition would be followed by others who would discover the rich resources of the untouched frontier. The beaver initially caused the great expansion into the west. It would be almost half a century later that gold would be the cause of expansion. The trappers' trails became trade routes, and later, roads for wagon caravans. Many of our highways today were built on these old roads, first carved by trappers hunting for beaver. Most of the furs from the west came through St. Louis, "Gateway to the West." The fur industry turned towns into cities and brought important commerce and development to many communities in the west.

American Beaver by John James Audubon




Copyright © 2012 Joanna Corley & Dabble Magazine, LLC.