Leave No Trace Hunting: What it Means and Why We Do It

Unfortunately, no matter how far you venture out, you will almost certainly come across trash. This creates a negative image of hunters and outdoor people and goes against the good hunting ethics we're taught and the leave-no-trace principle, a foundation for conservation and respect. 

What is leave no trace hunting? We'll talk about that today, along with some ways you can help preserve our natural resources. 

What is Leave No Trace Hunting?

At its core, "leave no trace" is a principle of conservation and sustainability that aims to maintain the natural environment by reducing human impact when engaging in outdoor activities.

Leave no trace hunting involves leaving the wilderness the exact way you found it. It requires hunters and outdoor people to be conscious of how their presence and actions impact the natural world. This principle also forms the basis for ethics in hunting. 

Leave No Trace is now a nationally recognized program that educates, trains, and inspires outdoor recreation participants. This approach applies the seven leave no trace principles (explored below) in a hunting framework. 

Why is Leave No Trace Hunting Important? 

These principles provide a basic conservation guideline that anyone can follow.

Our impact on the natural world will have a knock-on effect, for good or bad. The fewer disturbances to the ecosystem, the stronger its sustainability and health, which means the conservation of habitats. As hunters, we rely on a healthy ecosystem to maintain the flora and fauna that allow us to participate in our sport. 

Additionally, reducing human footprints helps reduce difficulty for animal species and shifts in their natural patterning. Human disturbances directly impact animal behavior, whether through habitat destruction, pollution, or changes in feeding and movement patterns.

Some of the more profound changes can be due to increased human-animal encounters and disrespect for wildlife, sometimes resulting in harm or death. 

The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace 

The seven leave-no-trace principles are a framework that encourages respect for the natural world. All outdoors people can use them to inform their time in the field. 

1. Plan and Prepare 

Preparing for the unknown will help keep you safe and better prepared for your outdoor trip. Research weather patterns, read about wildlife, study the terrain, and brush up on your first aid. 

The HuntWise app is an excellent tool to learn about the weather, terrain, and animal behavior in a specific area.

As hunters, it's also imperative to know the regulations and unique requirements of the intended hunting zone. The state's environmental authority has designed these to maintain optimal balance in the ecosystem and allow fair access and hunting opportunities. 

Proper planning ensures that you are prepared to minimize any negative environmental impact and reduces the instances of poor decision-making. 

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces 

Trails and roads are there for a reason and have been carefully designed to allow access to essential sites. They also minimize the impact of road and foot traffic on the surrounding environment and critical habitats through soil erosion and damage to plant life. 

By sticking to your planned route, you minimize the creation of multiple pathways.

This also applies to camping away from designated campsites or zones. When camping, try not to spread out too far, keep to communal areas as much as possible, and camp at least 200 feet from waterways. 

3. Dispose of Waste Properly 

All waste, whether food wrappers, vegetable scraps, or spent shells, should be stored and packed out. Use biodegradable soaps for washing and dispose of human waste in designated areas or a portable toilet.

If necessary, deposit human waste 6-8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from the water cover, and leave it just as it was before you dug. When washing, take water 200 feet from bodies of water and use small squirts of biodegradable soap, scampering used water when finished. 

4. Leave What You Find 

Maintaining a balanced ecosystem is leaving the environment as you found it. This means avoiding picking plants, disturbing rocks or logs, and leaving wildlife undisturbed.

This is essential in zones with people, artifacts, or culturally significant sites. 

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts 

To reduce the impact of fire on the natural environment, use a camp stove wherever possible. If a fire is necessary, use fire rings or pits provided by the campsite.

Make sure the fire is out completely before leaving by letting it burn out and pouring water over it to extinguish any small ash that may still be burning hot and scatter cool ashes. 

6. Respect Wildlife 

Wherever possible, it's essential to maintain a safe distance from all wild animals and observe from afar. A good set of binoculars will allow you to enjoy the natural wildlife without causing undue distress or disrupting its natural pattern.

Feeding or leaving food and food scraps for wild animals is a big no-no, as it teaches them to lose their instinctual behavior.

As hunters, we are responsible for only hunting target species for which we have a tag and following bag limit requirements at all times.

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors 

The outdoors is for everyone, and we should all respect this fact.

Part of leaving no trace is also leaving a good impression on fellow outdoors people. This means keeping noise low, respecting any limitations on pets, and not staying up too late partying on communal campsites. 

Yielding the trail, leaving hunting zones where other hunters are already working, and respecting private property are also excellent practices.

How the Leave No Trace Principles Benefit All Hunters 

By following the leave-no-trace hunting principles, we are working towards actively managing and maintaining natural zones and ecosystems that support the animals that we love and pursue. Being more aware of your surroundings and maintaining respect for nature can lead to a deeper connection with the land and wildlife and is also a great way to introduce young kids and novice hunters to the sport.

Respect for wildlife and the natural environment is the basis of everything. By keeping these communities, we foster an ethic of responsibility, stewardship, and respect for the environment.

Be Respectful When Hunting and Use HuntWise to Plan

Whether out for a walk, a hike, or a multi-day hunt, the leave no trace principles are the foundation of a respectful framework that fosters more substantial relationships with outdoor people and the natural world.

To level up your leave-no-trace hunting with elite mapping insights, tips from hunting pros, and access to private landowner contact details, download the HuntWise app. These tools will help you easily plan a leave-no-trace hunt while helping you tag out this season. 

Download the app and explore it free for your first week!