Conservation and Preservation

The abundance of game and non-game species in South Carolina is a prime example of how successful wildlife conservation efforts have been. This success would not have been possible without utilizing hunting and trapping as management tools. Equally important is funding directed to state wildlife agencies from federal excise taxes and from the sale of hunting and trapping licenses. Without the support of hunters and trappers, wildlife and wildlife habitat in the United States would be in jeopardy, many common species would be threatened or extinct, and much of the country’s diverse habitat would be lost.

The wildlife found in South Carolina is as diverse as the state’s habitats. Birds and mammals thrive in the woods, fields, and wetlands of the state. A variety of migratory waterfowl species and birds of prey can be found here. Wildlife identification is essential to hunting and trapping. Properly identifying game and non-game species prevents mistaken kills and adds to the overall enjoyment of time spent in the woods and fields of the state.

• The concept of wildlife conservation has been around since ancient times.
  • Restrictions on taking game are mentioned in the Bible, and the first official hunting season may have been established in the 13th century by Kublai Khan.
  • Today, wildlife conservation has evolved into a science, but its goal remains essentially the same: to ensure the wise use and management of renewable resources.
  • Given the right circumstances, the living organisms that we call renewable resources can replenish themselves indefinitely.
• Preservation is another means of protecting or saving a resource, such as by outlawing hunting of endangered species.
• Both preservation and conservation are necessary to sustain resources for future generations.