The National Rifle Association (NRA) has launched a bold new campaign called “NRA Hunting” to combat the left’s attempt at making hunting a thing of the past. Animal welfare groups, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), have made eliminating hunting a priority of theirs.

What the people in these anti-hunting organizations seem to forget is that not only have humans have been hunting for centuries, but that hunting prey is part of our natural lifecycle and the lifecycle of other animals. Hunter-gatherers had to forage for plants and hunt animals in order to survive, effectively conserving herds of wildlife for thousands of years.

“Hunting teaches you a number of things, whether it’s self-reliance, whether it’s conservation, whether it’s being able to take care of yourself in the absence of a supermarket …” said Josh Powell, national spokesperson for the campaign. “There is a massive misconception out there within this anti-hunting community in terms of exactly what they are doing and achieving, because they’re not saving animals, they’re not saving the environment.

Animal rights activists should want hunters to continue with their sport. Money used to purchase tags and licenses are used to fund conservative projects in order to protect the animals. And you know what else? To date, absolutely no species of animal has become extinct because of hunters.

Now that’s a tasty little tidbit I’m sure PETA finds hard to swallow.