"What are you doing to protect hunting and help it grow?

[et]

RMEF
BHA
ISB
ITB
IBEP instructor
I work daily to protect and expand hunting opportunities that I hope my children ages 8 and 10 may experience the pleasures that I have had. May it be through activism or example.
I have made choices in my life that I am not proud of but I have learned from them and do my best to promote the promises of Theodore Roosevelt and others made 100 years ago.
What are we doing to bring new folks into hunting? Keep circling the wagons tighter is a guaranteed way to choke ones self!
I actively recruit "environmentalist" that spend more time in the wild then the average hunter. They have the ability to explain how humans fit into the predator/ prey relationship and defend hunting. These "new" hunters hunt frequently hunt from the "old" traditions and fight the commercialization of hunting.
 Though the greats of yester year made a buck off of their wares, they sold the idea of that if you bought their wares you were buying adventure rather then success. Today as long as it is “ethical and legal" which are defined by the purveyors of commerce,  any thing goes.
Woo, to those that allow their noses to smell the stench of the "few" and as the stench rises we must turn our faces outwards and attack those who are not yet us.
I have 2 children and 1 will be a hunter and 1 will enjoy processing and eating game. My family is coming up a minus one as far as the recruitment, which is promised to be the savoir; recruiting youth into hunting. It is a losing proposition when one recruits from their own; it doesn’t work in nature and doesn’t work in business.
Recruiting my spouse is one thing, what are we doing to recruit her friends into supporting hunting? The "venom' that acknowledges the stink and the traditional hunting that many of us promote has done wonders and all it takes is the willingness to have an open dialogue. Heck, I married from the “wrong” side of the Mississippi (UVM grad) the land ethic, and conservation history that she studied in her under grad years gives her the courage to speak in favor of hunting though she does not pull the trigger nor drop the string on a game animals.  Her arguments are frequently countered by those who see and smell the stench that is far removed from the foundations that provide our great hunting history.
As I have said before, the "Big Tent" is great at being reactionary. Please show me how it is being proactive!
Hunting deserves more then a reactionary defense! Our wildlife conservation and hunting heritage deserves better. So I extend the challenge that was offered today, “What are you doing?”

et

[Jerry Jeffer]

I continue to purchase the all around sportsman license even though I only hunt with a bow now. I write letters to the representatives in our govt. defending our rights. I contribute to organizations I believe are fighting for our legacy. I try to educate individuals who are ignorant to nature, environment, and hunting. I pray.

[Bowferd]

I was fortunate enough in my lifetime to have produced 3 sons and 1 daughter. I was also blessed, so far with 13 grandchildren. To carry on the tradition is not my obligation, but it is my purpose. SO FAR SO GOOD! If in the later years they abondon what I tried to Pass on, then so be it. I don't believe it is going to happen.
Two of my sons are married to wonderful women, who at times, seem to be a bit squeemish!!!!
 OK, you might need to use spellchecker on that last one.
 My daughter Melanie and her Hub, greatest son-in-law you could ever find, have 6 of my grandkids, and I've been blessed.
 Those kids, 2 beautiful young ladies and 4 onery young boys are here to carry on.
 Bet you can't guess what they rec'd for Christmas?

[vermonster13]

To many things to list, but stay tuned to Pow Wow and in a month or so you'll see the newest project I am working on.    

[et]

V13,
Looking forward to seeing your project. We certainly need to address this issue in a proactive manner.

et

[Stone Knife]

I have a son and daughter that are interested, that is the next generation to stand up for our rights.

[laddy]

Stories around a campfire. Not a chance to brag about your greatest exploits.  Tell kids about the history of the woods  they in, tell them about the weather and its effect on the plants and animals.  Talk about rivers and the mysteries of life in and around them.  Tell them about buck fever and how good quail taste when cooked over an open fire and then feed it to them.  Tell them the big secret on how to enjoy cold weather.  get warm cloths and wear them.  You would be surprised how few young people know how to dress.  Leave them with a wonder and appreciation for all things natural, and when they are ready for the adventure, get generous with your time and your abilities and your stuff, if they can't afford it.  I have purchased many light weight bows over the years. Any body that has one or two laying around.  I will make strings, match up arrows, give shooting and hunting lessons to the ready and willing young people I know.  I don't have the money to do the **** thing, I prefer to see them before I risk it with a kid.

[Tom Leemans]

Take a kid hunting or fishing. Nuff said.

[vermonster13]

The elections will give you a chance to help. There are many candidates this time who are not on the same page as us.

[Sawtooth]

Senior Hunter Education Instructor-Colorado Divison of Wildlife

Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Trout Unlimited-Cheyenne Mountain Chapter

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society (Herdmaster for unit S-4)

Colorado Division of Wildlife Volunteer

Father of three daughters who already love the outdoors, hunting, fishing, hiking.  OK, the two-year-old just knows elk meat tastes good and that's about it!  But my point is that we started them out from infancy, riding in a backpack that I carried, and got them outdoors.  Something I do is get the kids who come over to play with our girls outdoors as well.  Away from the boob tube.  Even if they're playing baseball with sticks and rocks.  At least they're outdoors and MOVING.

Also, GET INVOLVED with local, regional and national issues that impact habitat and conservation.  I didn't do that for quite a few years, but saw the light a few years ago.  Now that involvement is sort of a way of life.

[vermonster13]

You can find the most recent project I was alluding to here.

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=056819