Hunting
Critics contend that the marsh is simply a "duck factory" for the benefit of hunters. Supporters believe that it would be unrealistic to expect that the required funds to recreate the marsh would have been forthcoming if wild ducks had no economic and recreational value to sportsmen. Oak Hammock Marsh, like other prairie wetlands, supports many wildlife species besides game birds.
The marsh itself is closed to hunting, but game birds (primarily mallards, snow geese, and Canada geese) are hunted in the autumn when they leave the marsh to feed in the surrounding grain fields. The waterfowl is additionally protected by a buffer zone extending 1 km from the water inside which hunting is prohibited, this protection extending outside of the WMA in some locations.
Read more about this topic: Oak Hammock Marsh
Famous quotes containing the word hunting:
“Escape
from the power of the hunting pack,
and to know that wisdom is best
and beauty
sheer holiness.”
—Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)
“They take unbelievable pleasure in the hideous blast of the hunting horn and baying of the hounds. Dogs’ dung smells sweet as cinnamon to them.”
—Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466–1536)
“God prosper long our noble king,
Our liffes and saftyes all!
A woefull hunting once there did
In Chevy Chase befall.”
—Unknown. Chevy Chase (l. 1–4)