Humans have always been hunters and have had to find ways to obtain meat. In prehistoric times, man lacked weapons and fire, so they got meat from smaller game or through scavenging (taking meat from animals already dead.) Over time, humans developed weapons and learned to control fire. Having fire allowed them to cook their meat, which meant they could now eat larger animals. Weapons, such as the bow and arrow, were used to kill larger game. They also learned to use traps to catch smaller animals. Weapons continued to improve along with hunting techniques and humans were able to be much more prosperous.

Now that we have grocery stores, restaurants, and butcher shops, it seems like hunting is no longer necessary. So why do people still hunt? This activity will explore what, where, and why, people hunt in Wyoming.

In this activity, your family will:

• Understand why people hunt
• Understand how hunting helps wildlife
• Explore where animals can be found in Wyoming
• Be introduced to the game animals that can be hunted in Wyoming

Materials needed:

• Computer or another device with internet connection
• Paper and pencil

Key Words to know:

Game Animal – an animal that is hunted for food, and the meat from those animals

Hunting– the practice of seeking, pursuing, and capturing or killing wildlife

Population – the number of individuals of a particular species in an area

 

Preparation:

• Visit the Wyoming Game & Fish channel on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/wygameandfish/featured) for videos of Wyoming’s wildlife, “How To” tutorials, wild game recipes, and more, to introduce the ideas of hunting, wildlife management, and good stewardship.
• Open the game links from the “Let’s Go Hunting” activity or scroll down to ensure embedded games are working correctly.
  • Hunting & Wildlife Management Snakes & Ladders https://view.genial.ly/5f9325a6ef71630d1f21e728
  • What Do People Hunt in Wyoming quiz puzzle https://view.genial.ly/60c114e4f272820cfa470aeb
  • Where Do People Hunt in Wyoming interactive map https://view.genial.ly/5f930804958ac80d6798fbc6

Do the Activity:

1. Complete the Snakes & Ladders game, Puzzle Quiz, and Map Exploration alone or with your family members. While you play, think about what you learn about hunting in Wyoming from the questions in the games.
2. Hunting & Wildlife Management Snakes & Ladders.

 

As you play this game, think about:

• What might happen if people hunted too many deer, what about hunting too few?
• How does hunting benefit the deer population in the game?
• How can hunting benefit humans?
• How does hunting benefit the ecosystem?
• How can hunting benefit Wyoming’s communities?
• This activity focuses on game animals that are harvested for food. How are game animals different from predatory animals?

What Do People Hunt in Wyoming? Quiz Puzzle.

 

As you play this game, think about:

• • What types of animals do people hunt in Wyoming?
  • How do people use the game animals they hunt?
  • What are some ways you can practice good stewardship as a hunter?

4. Where Do People Hunt in Wyoming? Map Exploration.

 

As you play this game, think about:

• • What types of game animals are hunted in different areas of Wyoming?
  • Why do you think different game animals are hunted in some areas instead of others?

5. Plan your dream hunting trip. Think about which animal(s) you would like to hunt in Wyoming, where you would go hunting, and how you would use the game you harvest. Write a paragraph or create a short presentation about your dream hunting trip to share with your family.

Learn more through our Wyo Wonders curriculum here!