Overhunting is any hunting activity that has an adverse impact on the total continuing population of a species. With the tremendous increase in the human population since the industrial revolution, there has been an ever increasing use and, often, exploitation of many of the world's natural resources. The demand for fish and shellfish has exemplified this misuse of natural resources. The amount of hunting pressure that a species can tolerate depends on its productivity, and it may change seasonally and annually because of drought, habitat alteration, pollution, or other mortality factors. Hunting which is well-regulated can be sustained, and sportsmen in countries with regulated hunting are quick to point out that they are not responsible for the endangerment or extinction of any species.

In unregulated situations, however, overhunting does occur, and it has endangered wildlife, even driving some species to extinction. The great auk (Alca impennis), a large...