Our Hunting Heritage in The United States
Our hunting heritage in the United States continues to move toward extinction as more and more young people are opting to not participate in our once popular past time.
Gone are the days of all of the men from the extended family gathering at deer camp to swap stories and pass on the rules and love of the outdoors.
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia
Back then you carried only a rifle, a knife, the clothes on your back and the knowledge in your head, and if you were unsuccessful, your family did not eat meat over the winter!
It is very different today, where hunters carry all of the latest gadgets and gizmos. Today hunters have to have the best hunting binoculars and the best rangefinders and waterproof boots and scent removers and hand warmers!
While you would think that all of these new gadgets would make deer hunters more successful, the truth is that there is no substitute for the knowledge and woodsmanship that was passed down from generation to generation and now is in danger of being lost.
What Can You Do To Preserve Our Hunting Heritage?
The only way that our hunting heritage is going to survive in the United States is if there is a grass roots effort to involve young people in our traditions and pass on our love and respect for the outdoors and the animals we pursue for both food and sport.
- Practice what you preach – As an adult that children look up to, you need to let them see you hunting and let them see your love and admiration of the animals that you pursue. Be sure to always obey the game laws and teach the children a healthy respect for the outdoors.
- Involve the family in the outdoors – There are many opportunities to involve the family in the outdoors besides hunting that will help to contribute to a love of the outdoors that will spill over into hunting. You can take the family fishing, or hiking or take them with you to look for shed deer antlers. Involve them any way that you can.
- Take a kid hunting – This is absolutely imperative if we are going to save our hunting heritage in the United States. We can not continue to lose hunters at the rate that we currently are and not expect to lose our rights and heritage. These can be some of the most satisfying times in a father and child’s life and can lead to memories that will be cherished forever. If you do not hunt yourself, perhaps you have a family member or a friend that can take your child hunting. Contact your local fish and game club and seek out a mentor that can help your child to find that love of the outdoors resting deep inside their soul.
Conclusion
Our hunting heritage in the United States is in trouble and the only way that we are going to save it is going to be with a concerted grass roots effort to get more young people involved in the outdoors.
It’s high time we get our children to put down the electronics and get back to the soul soothing accomplishments of being an outdoorsman and hunter.
Our hunting heritage will die without it.