Hunting and Game Consumption Patterns of Hunters in South Carolina

Abstract

Scarcity of site-specific consumption rates for use in contaminant exposure modeling has resulted in a lack of formal guidance for assessing risk of exposure to contaminants via consumption of wild game in the United States. Consequently, numerical estimation of what species hunters harvest, consume, and share is important for human health risk assessment, especially in areas with elevated risk of contaminant exposure. To address these information gaps, we designed and administered questionnaires to 260 hunters at two hunting expos in South Carolina and inquired about their harvesting, sharing, and consumption habits with respect to wild game and wild fish. Of the 11 game and fish we included in our survey, respondents reported hunting and consuming an average of 5.3 and sharing 3.5. We found a significant difference in number of wild game and fish meals eaten per year across a rural-urban gradient, with respondents from low population density counties consuming more than those from medium or high population density counties. Additionally, hunters in our survey reported sharing a considerable portion of the game they procure, and often consume more fish and game than they hunt. Thus, future surveys would benefit from asking more directed questions related to who is receiving harvested game and portion size shared. Additionally, 90% of surveyed hunters also reported consuming fish. Thus, our results also highlight the importance of considering cumulative wild game and fish consumption in future risk assessment analysis for the southeastern United States and other comparable populations, especially for high-risk groups such as children and pregnant women.

Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligators

“…The life history characteristics of the alligator make it an attractive species for use as a sentinel, specifically their long-life spans, high site fidelity, varied diet, and their ability to live in proximity to humans (Wilkinson et al, 2016). Throughout the southeastern U.S. alligators are consumed as large game via recreational hunting and are a direct source of toxic element exposure to humans locally (FFWCC, 2015; Tipton et al, 2017a, 2017b; Smith et al, 2017). The locations sampled in this study are unique in that there are ongoing alligator monitoring programs in place which makes samples accessible for temporal studies, and the sites in Florida allow recreational hunting of alligators (FFWCC, 2015; Tipton et al, 2017a, 2017b; Smith et al, 2017).…”

“…Throughout the southeastern U.S. alligators are consumed as large game via recreational hunting and are a direct source of toxic element exposure to humans locally (FFWCC, 2015; Tipton et al, 2017a, 2017b; Smith et al, 2017). The locations sampled in this study are unique in that there are ongoing alligator monitoring programs in place which makes samples accessible for temporal studies, and the sites in Florida allow recreational hunting of alligators (FFWCC, 2015; Tipton et al, 2017a, 2017b; Smith et al, 2017). To determine how the alligator can best be utilized as a sentinel species for local trace element exposure and to understand the exposure the alligators in this study experience relative to what is known for exposure and outcomes, the measurements in this study are evaluated by comparison to existing wildlife and human data.…”

“…The similar diets of alligators and humans in this region make alligators a worthy candidate to observe toxic element concentrations that humans may be exposed to via fish consumption (Rice et al, 2007). Additionally, it is common in the southeastern United States for the routine consumption of alligator meat via both commercial sales and recreational hunting (Rice et al, 2007; Delany et al, 1999; FFWCC, 2015; Tipton et al, 2017a, 2017b; Smith et al, 2017). Reptiles are cold-blooded and have a slower metabolism than mammals, which often raises concerns regarding their legitimacy as a sentinel for humans.…”

Accumulation of Contaminants by Wild Turkeys and Potential for Consumer Exposure

“…This one elevated Hg concentration out of 48 total breast samples would exceed the daily maximum oral reference dose at 11.89 μg Hg in one meal. However, although the amount is over the reference dose, unless a person is particularly sensitive to Hg contamination, exceeding a single daily reference dose by this low amount is unlikely to have detrimental effects on health, especially given that on average turkey hunters in South Carolina consume only 12 meals of wild turkey each year (Smith et al 2017). Because Hg contamination is pervasive throughout the southeastern United States, birds inhabiting other contaminated areas of the Southeast, chiefly riparian areas, may contain elevated Hg levels, and should be researched further.…”

Consumption of Wild‐Harvested Meat in Society

“…Wild‐harvested meat is distributed mainly through social networks of hunters (Ljung et al 2012, Goguen et al 2018, Smith et al 2018). In the United States, where the sale of wild‐harvested meat is illegal in almost all instances, sharing by hunters is the only way such meat is legally distributed (Geist 1988).…”