Here's a cool story about an American Avocet who was rescued thanks to a duck hunter and his dog. There are many rude and selfish hunters on this planet, as there are many rude and selfish birders; indeed, every group has rude and selfish members. But most people who spend their time in duck blinds every fall are there because they truly love wetlands. Hunters provide money to set aside wetlands by buying Duck Stamps, and they also provide much of the passion necessary to protect wild spaces.
I'm not a hunter, and never will be one. I get a queasy feeling at the thought of killing for sport, as I discussed in my essay, About Hunting. But as I also discussed in that essay, life is filled with contradictions.
If you want to do your part to protect our National Wildlife Refuges, please please PLEASE buy a Duck Stamp.