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The Shotgun Conservationist: Why Environmentalists Should Love Hunting
At the intersection of hunting and conservation, a man shares his personal journey from staunch anti-hunter to compassionate, ethical hunter, weaving together a larger history of humans, animals, the environment, and our food systems.
Picture a hunter. Who comes to mind? Millionaire playboys or big truck owning folks? Maybe so, but there’s more to it. Because if you love nature, value sustainability, abhor the pollution and inhumanity of factory farms, you could be a hunter in the making. And if you’ve never even considered hunting, The Shotgun Conservationist reveals all the reasons you should. Brant MacDuff makes us rethink who hunts and why. Growing up an animal lover with no hunting background, MacDuff himself would seem an unlikely advocate. Yet a lifelong love of the outdoors and a restless curiosity compelled him to investigate a simple is hunting conservation? So convinced, he consistently holds a hunting license in multiple states and gives lectures on the positive impact hunting has on conservation efforts nationwide and around the world.
MacDuff tells the story of how he became a hunter and the colorful characters, big personalities, and firsthand research that helped change his mind. His journey led to a deeper understanding of how hunting protects public lands, supports sustainable ecosystems, encourages biodiversity, and can help bridge social and political divides. Along the way, he introduces us to a new generation of hunters, different from timeworn stereotypes and preconceptions. And who better than MacDuff? A trans man living in Brooklyn, he defies expectations of who hunts and invites people of all backgrounds into the field.
Whether or not you decide to take up hunting, The Shotgun Conservationist provides a new perspective and appreciation for those who do.
Picture a hunter. Who comes to mind? Millionaire playboys or big truck owning folks? Maybe so, but there’s more to it. Because if you love nature, value sustainability, abhor the pollution and inhumanity of factory farms, you could be a hunter in the making. And if you’ve never even considered hunting, The Shotgun Conservationist reveals all the reasons you should. Brant MacDuff makes us rethink who hunts and why. Growing up an animal lover with no hunting background, MacDuff himself would seem an unlikely advocate. Yet a lifelong love of the outdoors and a restless curiosity compelled him to investigate a simple is hunting conservation? So convinced, he consistently holds a hunting license in multiple states and gives lectures on the positive impact hunting has on conservation efforts nationwide and around the world.
MacDuff tells the story of how he became a hunter and the colorful characters, big personalities, and firsthand research that helped change his mind. His journey led to a deeper understanding of how hunting protects public lands, supports sustainable ecosystems, encourages biodiversity, and can help bridge social and political divides. Along the way, he introduces us to a new generation of hunters, different from timeworn stereotypes and preconceptions. And who better than MacDuff? A trans man living in Brooklyn, he defies expectations of who hunts and invites people of all backgrounds into the field.
Whether or not you decide to take up hunting, The Shotgun Conservationist provides a new perspective and appreciation for those who do.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published April 25, 2023
24 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 8, 2023
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to pre-read this book and share my opinions on it.
Do any of the following describe you?
- "I watched Bambi as a child and that was all the more education I needed about hunters."
- "People hunt because they're filled with bloodlust and hunting is the only legal way to scratch that itch." (I only include this one because it has been said to my face. In all seriousness.)
- "Trophy hunting" means that a hunter only takes some taxidermied memento from some poor animal and just leaves the rest to molder in the sun.
- "I eat meat, but I buy it all from a grocery store."
If any of those sound familiar, this book will likely be an educational journey for you. Told with an approachable, humorous style, The Shotgun Conservationist is an honest look at the world of hunting. It covers the following:
- what hunting actually is and is not (couple of hints: it is not what you saw in Bambi, and trophy hunting is not as bad as you think it is)
- why people do it
- (perhaps most uncomfortably for some) why you should support it even if you don't ever choose to become a hunter yourself
And that's fine. I'm not saying you have to hunt if that's not what you want to do.
However, if you are at all concerned about:
- the ethics of your food (even if you don't eat meat)
- the state of our endangered species in this nation
- having access to public outdoor spaces where you can hike, camp, vacation, and whatever other outdoor recreation you enjoy
...then you might be surprised to learn that most of the money that supports those concerns/enjoyments of yours comes from hunters. All that and more is covered in these pages. You can even learn how to support these causes without ever needing to pick up a shotgun and sit in the woods yourself (because as I said before, that's fine if that's not your thing).
Just in case you thought this was going to be nothing but a bloodthirsty pro-animal-killing manifesto, it also covered some of the stickier areas of contention even amongst hunters themselves, such as the ethics of trapping, hunting predators, or hunting in Africa (yes, poor old Cecil the Lion gets a mention). It acknowledges that there are nuances within the world of hunting, and lets you know it's okay if you don't immediately take it all at face value - a little bit of education goes a long way when it comes to hunting and conservation, and if you have a funny feeling in your tummy about any of it, it's okay to ask questions.
Ultimately, this book had a lot of positive contributions to the hunting and conservation conversation (try saying that five times fast), and while none of its information will be a surprise to anyone already within the world of hunting, it's an educational read for anyone curious about getting started (can I just gush for a second about the extensive "suggested reading" section in the back? ohmahgarsh). If you've already made up your mind and think hunting is nothing but a bunch of hicks getting their legal murder jollies out in the woods, you'll still probably think this is nothing but a bloodthirsty pro-animal-killing manifesto, but you should read it anyway. You might just find that hunters love animals and the outdoors just as much as you do, that they want to preserve those things just as much as you do, and that they care about where their food comes from just as much as you do.
Do any of the following describe you?
- "I watched Bambi as a child and that was all the more education I needed about hunters."
- "People hunt because they're filled with bloodlust and hunting is the only legal way to scratch that itch." (I only include this one because it has been said to my face. In all seriousness.)
- "Trophy hunting" means that a hunter only takes some taxidermied memento from some poor animal and just leaves the rest to molder in the sun.
- "I eat meat, but I buy it all from a grocery store."
If any of those sound familiar, this book will likely be an educational journey for you. Told with an approachable, humorous style, The Shotgun Conservationist is an honest look at the world of hunting. It covers the following:
- what hunting actually is and is not (couple of hints: it is not what you saw in Bambi, and trophy hunting is not as bad as you think it is)
- why people do it
- (perhaps most uncomfortably for some) why you should support it even if you don't ever choose to become a hunter yourself
And that's fine. I'm not saying you have to hunt if that's not what you want to do.
However, if you are at all concerned about:
- the ethics of your food (even if you don't eat meat)
- the state of our endangered species in this nation
- having access to public outdoor spaces where you can hike, camp, vacation, and whatever other outdoor recreation you enjoy
...then you might be surprised to learn that most of the money that supports those concerns/enjoyments of yours comes from hunters. All that and more is covered in these pages. You can even learn how to support these causes without ever needing to pick up a shotgun and sit in the woods yourself (because as I said before, that's fine if that's not your thing).
Just in case you thought this was going to be nothing but a bloodthirsty pro-animal-killing manifesto, it also covered some of the stickier areas of contention even amongst hunters themselves, such as the ethics of trapping, hunting predators, or hunting in Africa (yes, poor old Cecil the Lion gets a mention). It acknowledges that there are nuances within the world of hunting, and lets you know it's okay if you don't immediately take it all at face value - a little bit of education goes a long way when it comes to hunting and conservation, and if you have a funny feeling in your tummy about any of it, it's okay to ask questions.
Ultimately, this book had a lot of positive contributions to the hunting and conservation conversation (try saying that five times fast), and while none of its information will be a surprise to anyone already within the world of hunting, it's an educational read for anyone curious about getting started (can I just gush for a second about the extensive "suggested reading" section in the back? ohmahgarsh). If you've already made up your mind and think hunting is nothing but a bunch of hicks getting their legal murder jollies out in the woods, you'll still probably think this is nothing but a bloodthirsty pro-animal-killing manifesto, but you should read it anyway. You might just find that hunters love animals and the outdoors just as much as you do, that they want to preserve those things just as much as you do, and that they care about where their food comes from just as much as you do.
January 12, 2025
So good. I'm definitely a hunting convert. I don't see myself hunting as a vegetarian, but I fully endorse those who do. The benefits include: more ethical sourcing of meat, infusion of money into the environment through hunting licenses, and animal population control, just to name a few.
An interesting stat I liked:
"A 2017 study, published in the journal Science, calculated that eating no meat cuts an individual's carbon footprint by 820 kg of carbon dioxide each year on average. About 4 times the reduction they'd get by recycling as much as possible"
An interesting stat I liked:
"A 2017 study, published in the journal Science, calculated that eating no meat cuts an individual's carbon footprint by 820 kg of carbon dioxide each year on average. About 4 times the reduction they'd get by recycling as much as possible"
November 27, 2023
The book that made me think the most this year!!
June 29, 2023
Many books expand my thinking, few can get me to 180 life long views. MacDuff is among those rare few.
MacDuff is kind of like if you crossed Bill Nye with Ron Swanson. His love of the outdoors, hunting, and related accessories is matched only by his profound and profoundly nerdy love of science, history, and policy minutia.
If you consider yourself an animal lover, outdoor enthusiast, vegan, conservationist, or just someone who likes learning, pick up this book. Even if it doesn’t change your mind, you’ll come away with a bigger view of the world, having had more than a few good laughs along the way.
MacDuff is kind of like if you crossed Bill Nye with Ron Swanson. His love of the outdoors, hunting, and related accessories is matched only by his profound and profoundly nerdy love of science, history, and policy minutia.
If you consider yourself an animal lover, outdoor enthusiast, vegan, conservationist, or just someone who likes learning, pick up this book. Even if it doesn’t change your mind, you’ll come away with a bigger view of the world, having had more than a few good laughs along the way.
March 4, 2025
The book is good, but I can’t say it presented any new ethical theory or framework for me; though it was a great 101 course on hunting and presented critical arguments on how hunting (if properly managed) can enhance conservation efforts.
However, a cornerstone argument of the book is that the Pittman-Robertson Act was created expressly to fund conservation. This is a half truth, the Act was a reallocation of existing excise tax which undermines the altruism argument because it didn’t change the economic conditions of the hunting stakeholders. My other big gripe is ecological conservation is a science and this book was more an anecdotal journey of the author’s education and entry into hunting. I understand the intuitive nature of their argument, but robust scientific evidence would turn this book into a legitimate argument verse a good story.
Hunting, done right, can both reduce an individuals impact through dietary choices and if the right (invasive/overpopulated) animals are hunted can mitigate crowding events and resource depletion. Granted, hunting is not the only solution and not the right solution in each case.
However, a cornerstone argument of the book is that the Pittman-Robertson Act was created expressly to fund conservation. This is a half truth, the Act was a reallocation of existing excise tax which undermines the altruism argument because it didn’t change the economic conditions of the hunting stakeholders. My other big gripe is ecological conservation is a science and this book was more an anecdotal journey of the author’s education and entry into hunting. I understand the intuitive nature of their argument, but robust scientific evidence would turn this book into a legitimate argument verse a good story.
Hunting, done right, can both reduce an individuals impact through dietary choices and if the right (invasive/overpopulated) animals are hunted can mitigate crowding events and resource depletion. Granted, hunting is not the only solution and not the right solution in each case.
October 18, 2023
Lots of well-presented information on hunting and conservationism. Written in a lighthearted accessible style.
July 3, 2023
Brant MacDuff grew up loving animals of all kinds, so of course he hated hunting. But as an adult he started to recognize that eating meat meant some kind of animal had to die and started looking into sustainable meat. What he found was surprising - hunting is the most sustainable source of high-quality meat. MacDuff started getting into hunting and found that it combined two of his favorite things - being outdoors and eating high-quality meat. In The Shotgun Conservationist MacDuff explains how hunting is really good for everyone - the animals, the environment, and the people eating the meat. Most people probably don't realize that almost all the money for environmental conservation comes from hunting and fishing licenses and without hunting there wouldn't be money to maintain these public lands and natural areas that anyone can enjoy (even non-hunters). As a former anti-hunter, MacDuff does a great job of explaining how his views came to change and make his case that everyone should be for hunting, even if you don't personally want to hunt. I thought he did a great job of making his case especially around the issue of sourcing high-quality food/meat. The last chapter covers some more controversial issues around hunting like fur trapping and using dogs with hunting. He is a great writer and really covers this issue very thoroughly and with plenty of humor too. Overall, even if you think you don't want to be a hunter if you're interested in food and sustainable meat you should check this one out.
Some quotes I liked:
[On plant-based meat products] "No doubt we are headed for a similar reconning with processed plant-based foods. Imitation meat is not an environmental panacea, and it's certainly not a less harmful food choice than meat. Once we start shipping beans to and from energy-intensive processing factories so they can look and taste like chicken nuggets, we enter a state of diminishing environmental returns. If a concern for animals and habitat were the prompts for someone's vegetarian diet, then they should just eat the beans. As much as people might question the motives of hunters, I question the motives of some vegetarians. Why choose something meant to look and taste like meat if you don't want to eat meat?" (p. 20)
"In a piece for the Center for Humans and Nature, Mary Zeiss Stange, author, environmental activist, and conservation scholar, wrote, 'By opting out of meat-eating, we cannot ignore the blood that is still, inevitably, on our collective hands. Mechanized farming is lethal to animals and their habitat, and a farmer harvesting a field of soybeans wreaks more carnage in a single sunny afternoon than your average hunter could accomplish in an entire lifetime.'" (p. 21)
"We've removed ourselves from the environments our food comes from (vegetables included) to such a degree that people really do think it all just comes from the grocery store. If you don't see your meat as former animals, then why would you care about how they lived or died? Acknowledging they were animals seems so much more productive to me than just respecting them postmortem. I hate terms and phrases like 'respect its sacrifice' and 'gave its life.' I promise you the animal did not give its life to you. A steer did not walk onto your grill and say, 'I understand you need burgers for the Fourth of July weekend, I volunteer as tribute.'" (p. 31)
[On hunting invasive species] "Iguanas and pythons are dangerously destructive invasives in southern Florida - they've cleared the Everglades of 90 percent of its native mammal population (pythons alone are responsible for the disappearance of 99 percent of raccoons, 98 percent of opossums, and 87 percent of of bobcats; marsh rabbits, cottontails, and foxes have completely disappeared)." (p. 111)
[In the US you can't sell wild game to a business or restaurant] "When you see venison, elk, or alligator on a menu, that's a captive, farm-raised animal just like a cow or pig. It may be 'exotic' because you don't see it on menus often, or called 'game' because it might be a game species, but it was never wild." (p. 118)
"Native Americans used small, prescribed fires to regenerate the soil in certain areas, which led to new growth of forest understory and protection from larger fires. But the practice was outlawed by a US government that thought using fire was primitive and dangerous. Thus began some one hundred years of fire suppression strategies in America that have turned much of the country into a giant tinder box." (p. 124)
"I'd asked [Sophie Egan] why hunting doesn't come up more in food writing - I've read articles about hunting in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal that mention food, but I cannot recall ever seeing an article about sustainable eating that mentioned hunting - but I didn't really need to ask; I knew the answer. And I was unpleasantly relieved to hear Egan agree with me. Think of the organizations and people that write about sustainability, food ethics, and the climate emergency. Putting aside the fantasy that politics never interfere with reporting, it's not hard to see how maybe (and I'm gonna generalize here) the left-leaning organizations that report on those topics don't want to include something they consider a right-leaning activity." (p. 134)
"There was a small element of pride, the same pride I imagine a gardener feels after uprooting a carrot they've grown. I didn't feel superior to the deer. I didn't feel I had conquered nature. I finally felt equal. We show dominance over nature when we remove ourselves from it, and when we think we can remove ourselves from it. Buying a cheap pork loin or dino-shaped soy nuggets at the market, that was the grotesque show of dominance over the natural world, I realized, not [hunting]." (p. 143)
Some quotes I liked:
[On plant-based meat products] "No doubt we are headed for a similar reconning with processed plant-based foods. Imitation meat is not an environmental panacea, and it's certainly not a less harmful food choice than meat. Once we start shipping beans to and from energy-intensive processing factories so they can look and taste like chicken nuggets, we enter a state of diminishing environmental returns. If a concern for animals and habitat were the prompts for someone's vegetarian diet, then they should just eat the beans. As much as people might question the motives of hunters, I question the motives of some vegetarians. Why choose something meant to look and taste like meat if you don't want to eat meat?" (p. 20)
"In a piece for the Center for Humans and Nature, Mary Zeiss Stange, author, environmental activist, and conservation scholar, wrote, 'By opting out of meat-eating, we cannot ignore the blood that is still, inevitably, on our collective hands. Mechanized farming is lethal to animals and their habitat, and a farmer harvesting a field of soybeans wreaks more carnage in a single sunny afternoon than your average hunter could accomplish in an entire lifetime.'" (p. 21)
"We've removed ourselves from the environments our food comes from (vegetables included) to such a degree that people really do think it all just comes from the grocery store. If you don't see your meat as former animals, then why would you care about how they lived or died? Acknowledging they were animals seems so much more productive to me than just respecting them postmortem. I hate terms and phrases like 'respect its sacrifice' and 'gave its life.' I promise you the animal did not give its life to you. A steer did not walk onto your grill and say, 'I understand you need burgers for the Fourth of July weekend, I volunteer as tribute.'" (p. 31)
[On hunting invasive species] "Iguanas and pythons are dangerously destructive invasives in southern Florida - they've cleared the Everglades of 90 percent of its native mammal population (pythons alone are responsible for the disappearance of 99 percent of raccoons, 98 percent of opossums, and 87 percent of of bobcats; marsh rabbits, cottontails, and foxes have completely disappeared)." (p. 111)
[In the US you can't sell wild game to a business or restaurant] "When you see venison, elk, or alligator on a menu, that's a captive, farm-raised animal just like a cow or pig. It may be 'exotic' because you don't see it on menus often, or called 'game' because it might be a game species, but it was never wild." (p. 118)
"Native Americans used small, prescribed fires to regenerate the soil in certain areas, which led to new growth of forest understory and protection from larger fires. But the practice was outlawed by a US government that thought using fire was primitive and dangerous. Thus began some one hundred years of fire suppression strategies in America that have turned much of the country into a giant tinder box." (p. 124)
"I'd asked [Sophie Egan] why hunting doesn't come up more in food writing - I've read articles about hunting in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal that mention food, but I cannot recall ever seeing an article about sustainable eating that mentioned hunting - but I didn't really need to ask; I knew the answer. And I was unpleasantly relieved to hear Egan agree with me. Think of the organizations and people that write about sustainability, food ethics, and the climate emergency. Putting aside the fantasy that politics never interfere with reporting, it's not hard to see how maybe (and I'm gonna generalize here) the left-leaning organizations that report on those topics don't want to include something they consider a right-leaning activity." (p. 134)
"There was a small element of pride, the same pride I imagine a gardener feels after uprooting a carrot they've grown. I didn't feel superior to the deer. I didn't feel I had conquered nature. I finally felt equal. We show dominance over nature when we remove ourselves from it, and when we think we can remove ourselves from it. Buying a cheap pork loin or dino-shaped soy nuggets at the market, that was the grotesque show of dominance over the natural world, I realized, not [hunting]." (p. 143)
June 23, 2023
Packed full of info on all things conservation, but also a little disjointed. The narrative flow just didn't quite establish itself. Any mention of Tim Ferris is a personal turn off, as that guy is trash, but overall that wasn't informative and helped to reaffirm desires to become more sustainable in my eating.
April 19, 2023
The Shotgun Conservationist was a highly informative, easily accessible book about the importance of hunting and all of the misconceptions surrounding it. While a lot of this information wasn't new to me, being from a family of hunters and being married to a family of hunters, I still picked it up because I sometimes find the need to defend why those in my family do what they do. The author does a great job addressing all of the beneficial aspects of hunting for conservation, wildlife preservation and funding, and the ways that hunters help and not harm the world around us.
If, like me, you know that hunting is beneficial but you just don't have the detailed "why" information or wish you had a stronger argument for it, this book is it. While it came off preachy and self-righteous at times, and was sometimes bogged down with a lot of information, this is a good one to have around. I will be referencing it to friends in the future, and possibly gifting to the hunters I know and love (although they'll know a lot of the information here, I'm sure they'll appreciate reading about all the positives their community brings to society).
Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for giving me advanced access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The Shotgun Conservationist: Why Environmentalists Should Love Hunting publishes April 25, 2023!
If, like me, you know that hunting is beneficial but you just don't have the detailed "why" information or wish you had a stronger argument for it, this book is it. While it came off preachy and self-righteous at times, and was sometimes bogged down with a lot of information, this is a good one to have around. I will be referencing it to friends in the future, and possibly gifting to the hunters I know and love (although they'll know a lot of the information here, I'm sure they'll appreciate reading about all the positives their community brings to society).
Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for giving me advanced access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The Shotgun Conservationist: Why Environmentalists Should Love Hunting publishes April 25, 2023!
May 25, 2023
This book is about hunting, but more than that, this book is about conservation and protecting our wild places and wild creatures so that they are around for the long term. The author dives deep not only into his history with hunting and how it relates to his love of animals and nature, but also into how hunting (and fishing) actually fund the majority of conservation funding. Not only the funding in North America, but also Africa. A lot of people have strong feelings about hunting and in most cases, those strong feelings are not backed up any facts. You will read an enjoyable book that not only covers the author's personal journey, but also dives deep into food systems, conservation funding, the success of hunting in restoring sustainable populations of many animal (and plant) species and much much more.
September 1, 2024
Surprising! I didn’t realize hunters are the greatest source of conservation funding in the U.S. without protected land there are no animals to hunt so back in the 1800’s hunters went to state & federal legislators and said « tax us » and use the $$ to set aside and manage protected lands so we have places to hunt. And it has been successful! Too bad recreational users don’t have the same attitude!
September 18, 2023
I loved this book and will now be putting several of the recommended readings in my queue.
It was a very strange reading experience for me that I wouldn't expect for others; I might be convinced the author is the time travelling parallel universe offspring of my spouse and I. Spouse = hunter/fisherman working for an outdoorsy government agency, me = pescatarian, plus this was 100% my sense of humor.
Lots of informative detail, and the spouse did let me know he's "told me all this stuff before." No disrespect to dearest spouse, but I liked getting info from this book. I did rethink a couple of aspects.
It was a very strange reading experience for me that I wouldn't expect for others; I might be convinced the author is the time travelling parallel universe offspring of my spouse and I. Spouse = hunter/fisherman working for an outdoorsy government agency, me = pescatarian, plus this was 100% my sense of humor.
Lots of informative detail, and the spouse did let me know he's "told me all this stuff before." No disrespect to dearest spouse, but I liked getting info from this book. I did rethink a couple of aspects.
December 10, 2022
A solid addition to any library's conservation/environmentalism section. Although most of these ideas discussed in the book would be familiar to anyone entrenched in the environmentalism world, the title, cover, and slant of the book make these ideas accessible and interesting to readers who may not otherwise ever pick up a conservation book. I will be ordering this for our library's non-fiction section, as hunting is a popular hobby here and I think it could draw a lot of curious readers.
November 1, 2023
As far as food sourcing goes, MacDuff has convinced me that hunting is likely the most sustainable model. Hunting isn’t a complete solution to the climate crisis, but it certainly factors in. I’m not sure if I agree with all of MacDuff’s arguments, but I do agree that: hunting licenses = revenue for conservation = improved wildlife habitats and management strategies.
May 15, 2023
This book was hard to set down! This author toes the line between personal anecdote, solid research and humor.
June 11, 2023
Excellent book, fun stories in a broader cohesive narrative, would recommend to just about anyone. And spawned a half dozen other books onto my reading list, which is always delightful!
June 8, 2023
Fascinating, Informative and fun…A must read for anyone who loves wildlife!
As a non-hunter who experienced my own evolution of thought regarding conservation, I found MacDuffs journey -- from an anti-hunting animal-welfare-activist New York city-slicker to passionate hunter and conservationist – utterly fascinating. While we come from vastly different backgrounds, experiences, and avenue of transformation, we basically arrived at the same conclusion -- anyone who cares about the natural world and having wildlife for future generations should LOVE well-managed hunting…even if you have zero desire to pull the trigger yourself.
But, I did not love this book just because we came to the same conclusions after oodles of research and first-hand experience. I loved this book because Brant shares his story and knowledge in a way that will have you snickering throughout the book with his witty insights. For instance, when speaking about Africa (which is my passion), he states “If tommorrow we find out the best scientifically recommended way to protect species, empower local communities, preserve habitat, and stop poachers is actually nude mud wrestling, then I'll get my ass waxed and be on the next flight to Zimbabwe.” The book is full of entertaining quips that really hit home with the message he is sharing.
The thought and research he put into being the most environmentally conscious as possible -- from a very early age -- is unbelievable. But most commendable, when research and common sense blew his preconceived notions out of the water, he didn’t bury his head in the sand. He evolved.
This book is a must read for hunters, non-hunters, and anti-hunters. If read with an open mind, each group will gain insights into the minds of those different from us, hopefully helping to bridge the gap and do what is best for our world…and the wildlife that we all love so much.
As a non-hunter who experienced my own evolution of thought regarding conservation, I found MacDuffs journey -- from an anti-hunting animal-welfare-activist New York city-slicker to passionate hunter and conservationist – utterly fascinating. While we come from vastly different backgrounds, experiences, and avenue of transformation, we basically arrived at the same conclusion -- anyone who cares about the natural world and having wildlife for future generations should LOVE well-managed hunting…even if you have zero desire to pull the trigger yourself.
But, I did not love this book just because we came to the same conclusions after oodles of research and first-hand experience. I loved this book because Brant shares his story and knowledge in a way that will have you snickering throughout the book with his witty insights. For instance, when speaking about Africa (which is my passion), he states “If tommorrow we find out the best scientifically recommended way to protect species, empower local communities, preserve habitat, and stop poachers is actually nude mud wrestling, then I'll get my ass waxed and be on the next flight to Zimbabwe.” The book is full of entertaining quips that really hit home with the message he is sharing.
The thought and research he put into being the most environmentally conscious as possible -- from a very early age -- is unbelievable. But most commendable, when research and common sense blew his preconceived notions out of the water, he didn’t bury his head in the sand. He evolved.
This book is a must read for hunters, non-hunters, and anti-hunters. If read with an open mind, each group will gain insights into the minds of those different from us, hopefully helping to bridge the gap and do what is best for our world…and the wildlife that we all love so much.
November 9, 2023
As a vegetarian for the last 30 years, I've not really had a great deal of reason to go hunting. But pastoring a congregation in a rural/ag area has meant plenty of opportunities to chat with members who do hunt, primarily for the deer that I routinely dodge on my ride to church. I have a tremendous amount of respect for what they do, although I demur myself. Double aught buck tends to mess with the texture of my tofu.
Hunting is, without question, a vastly more humane way to get meat than our horrific system of factory farming, and MacDuff describes his journey into the ecosystem of hunting. MacDuff's prose is entertaining, and his insights engaging. It's a fun book.
That said, the book does lack a through line, or a sense of development. The sections seem a bit haphazard, and I found myself feeling a tick becalmed after a while. Haven't I read basically this already?
I'm also skeptical of some of the less-well-supported claims about the land use of plant-based "meats," and would have appreciated a footnote or two. You gonna make a statement, tell me from whence it comes.
A solid read. 3.5
Hunting is, without question, a vastly more humane way to get meat than our horrific system of factory farming, and MacDuff describes his journey into the ecosystem of hunting. MacDuff's prose is entertaining, and his insights engaging. It's a fun book.
That said, the book does lack a through line, or a sense of development. The sections seem a bit haphazard, and I found myself feeling a tick becalmed after a while. Haven't I read basically this already?
I'm also skeptical of some of the less-well-supported claims about the land use of plant-based "meats," and would have appreciated a footnote or two. You gonna make a statement, tell me from whence it comes.
A solid read. 3.5
January 6, 2025
I can honestly say that this book pretty seriously shifted my mindset about hunting! I though it was organized well, the stories in it were funny, touching, and informative, and it was so cool hearing a defense of hunting from the perspective of someone that shares a lot of my same politics.
Coming from a rural area, I know a lot of people that hunt, so I can't say that I ever thought it was necessarily a bad thing, but I was completely uninformed about how it actually very much serves and helps the environment and conservation efforts. I don't see myself becoming a hunter any time soon, but I do want to start being more sustainable when it comes to the foods I buy from the grocery store - especially meat. I don't buy a lot, but I could definitely do more research as to where it is coming from and if it is ethically sourced.
I would recommend this book if you are into animals and conservation, and if you have strong opinions and feelings about hunting but are open to having your mind changed!!
Coming from a rural area, I know a lot of people that hunt, so I can't say that I ever thought it was necessarily a bad thing, but I was completely uninformed about how it actually very much serves and helps the environment and conservation efforts. I don't see myself becoming a hunter any time soon, but I do want to start being more sustainable when it comes to the foods I buy from the grocery store - especially meat. I don't buy a lot, but I could definitely do more research as to where it is coming from and if it is ethically sourced.
I would recommend this book if you are into animals and conservation, and if you have strong opinions and feelings about hunting but are open to having your mind changed!!
October 17, 2024
This book is a must read for everyone! Why?! Because we are running out of Earth.
Anyone who cares about saving the environment (everyone should) would learn a ton about easy ways to help do their part, from which stamps to buy to support wildlife conservation, to where to buy your food, or even how to participate more actively. Plus, learn why cats hate birds and why vegan kayakers are a larger threat to nature than Ted Nugent. (I took some personal liberties with that last analogy and might not be 110% accurate—- I’d have to learn more about Ted Nugent to know for sure…but you’d totally get what I meant by it if you read this book).
Overall a smart, extremely clever, utterly well done attempt to explain how wildlife conservation works in America and why most Americans who call themselves environmentalists are getting in the way of its success. A very difficult topic to explain and MacDuff makes a masterful job of it.
Anyone who cares about saving the environment (everyone should) would learn a ton about easy ways to help do their part, from which stamps to buy to support wildlife conservation, to where to buy your food, or even how to participate more actively. Plus, learn why cats hate birds and why vegan kayakers are a larger threat to nature than Ted Nugent. (I took some personal liberties with that last analogy and might not be 110% accurate—- I’d have to learn more about Ted Nugent to know for sure…but you’d totally get what I meant by it if you read this book).
Overall a smart, extremely clever, utterly well done attempt to explain how wildlife conservation works in America and why most Americans who call themselves environmentalists are getting in the way of its success. A very difficult topic to explain and MacDuff makes a masterful job of it.
December 7, 2023
Alright, it has been a while since I have rated a book. I thought I would give this one a go because I thought it was a pretty thought provoking book. I was not always interested in hunting but a few things opened me up to it. I think the main thing for me is that I want to kill as few animals as possible. I would rather kill one moose or eight ducks, than eat a single pound of beef that contains the DNA of 100 cows. I think it is important that we as human animals realize that all food even vegan organic vegetable farms will kill animals through the use of pesticides and habitat loss. I would rather be directly responsibility for the death of a few animals than indirectly for the deaths of many.
November 7, 2025
I did not expect to like this book. It does not sound like a book I would like. I learned more than I could tell you in a blurb. As a conscientious pescatarian, erstwhile vegan, I thought I would hate everything in this book. I read it cause someone I care about told me to, not out of sheer curiosity. What I found was I learned alot about how conservation happens, who funds it and what actually makes it tick. I'm not saying I like everything I learned, just that I know alot more now than I did before. Also, another book read by the author that is worth the listen. He's charming to listen to and funnier the you'd think.
February 11, 2024
Such an excellent book by a true lover of nature and our environment. Brant does such an excellent job discussing hunting, conservation, and the environment. I have for years felt strongly about the positive impacts of hunting and finding someone who feels the same and can so accurately discus it was great. Hunting can and is vital to protecting our natural wildlife. If you’re looking to learn about hunting, responsible wildlife management, or even the intricate world of turkey mating this is the book for you.
October 22, 2025
A very healing book as someone who was raised hunting, went through a vegetarian phase and and wore bandanas for awhile, and then is back into hunting. Brant also thinks like I do- particularly with the "if I was dictator this is how I'd do it, and thank goodness I'm not a dictator" thought process. It was a long but very entertaining listen (read) by author, which I think is necessary. So often conversations on hunting get short changed because it's such a complicated issue with many opinions. So to spend so long fleshing out all the angles was great. Highly recommended.
May 14, 2023
Wow, this book was clearly the result of a lifetime of thought and study, it's funny too! The book makes "wildlife economics" and conservation history and theory totally accessible and fun. It uses hunting as a lens to explore all sorts of ways people relate to animals and the environment. There are a lot of personal stories and silly movie references too, it's not a dry textbook even though it's full of research. Also the author is super cute.
September 4, 2024
I started hunting because I felt disconnected with my food (which is a whole other story). Brant MacDuff (a former anti-hunter and attempted vegetarian) talks about his process with that same struggle, along with a LOT of information about why hunters* are some of the most critical people involved in maintaining our wildlife population, along with the state and national parks that we ALL use.
*LEGAL hunters – he is VERY clear that poachers are a completely different discussion
*LEGAL hunters – he is VERY clear that poachers are a completely different discussion
November 17, 2025
We read this book in our conservation group book club, and as an outdoor enthusiast, I learned more than I thought I would. If you love nature and you want to see our wild places and our wildlife protected, you will learn about some of the hard-to-accept truths in why and how we have to manage wildlife for their health and safety as well as ours. THIS should be the go-to book for every anti-hunter to read before they try to argue their "points" with hunters and wildlife biologists.
November 23, 2025
I had a hard time getting through this book. It took me 2 years to get through a book of roughly 200 pages. It meanders alot and reads like blog posts. As a wildlife and bird girlie I should have done this in one sitting but just couldn't. Then I reached the same thoughts I had with Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell, when they start talking about themselves how that impacts their views of wildlife. Its much more of a personal project and like its fine.
July 14, 2023
Very well researched, humorous at times, highly informative (at times, a touch too much). Arguments were sound, and I even got curious as to whether I might want to learn to hunt too - then I’d remember I’m vegan 😅. Overall, entertaining and inspiring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2025
Absolutely fascinating!!
I learned so much and it was so helpful to hear (audiobook) about the experiences of hunting and WHY it is so important in the relationship of conservation.
Highly recommend.
I learned so much and it was so helpful to hear (audiobook) about the experiences of hunting and WHY it is so important in the relationship of conservation.
Highly recommend.
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