There’s a lot of talk in the hunting industry about the future of hunting or the lack thereof. Some rage about legislation making gun ownership more difficult, or even impossible, and some bemoan the shrinking number of hunters joining the sport.
The truth is, both of these issues are linked and the solution is simple.
What We Think the Problem Is
Most of us believe that the answer to the first issue, gun ownership, is congress. Get the right people in there, lobby well, and win the issues.
But we aren’t.
Sure we win a few but little by little we’re losing ground. The real answer to that problem lies in the second problem; the shrinking number of folks getting into hunting.
The truth of the matter is, we’re losing the issues long before they reach the senate and house floors. We’re losing them by the generation.
Why our Kids are the Hinge-Pin to the Future of Hunting
How is this happening? It’s simple. The opponents of the outdoors industry are spending much more time and effort convincing kids, some may even say brainwashing kids, of their point of view. Kids are raised by teachers, coaches, and the folks that run the after school programs, and T.V. shows more than they are by their parents.
These arenas are nearly void of the sportsman’s culture.
The reason our opponents are spending so much time and effort on kids is also simple. One day they will vote.
As an industry, the hunting and fishing world has not geared itself towards kids, or even youth for that matter. Yes, they make room for them. Yes, they even support kids getting into the sport. But it hasn’t been a key focus of the industry as a whole. It needs to become a movement. Grab a kid and teach ’em hunting or fishing. Period.
We’re so focused on posting the biggest trophy photos on Instagram we’re slowly losing the right to pursue the game itself, one generation at a time.
Why it’s up to Sportsmen and Women to Make the Difference
Hunting and fishing are two sports that you have to experience to understand and appreciate.
There’s a reason we all love what we do; the thrill of the chase, the struggle, the strategy, and at long last, success. It’s all worth it. The countless hours in the woods or on the water refreshes the soul, pulls you into something deeper, something that goes beyond words. That’s why we’re all willing to fight for it.
It all boils down to how we’re fighting. We need to shift from putting so much effort and money into fighting the politics and put it into raising the next generation of voters and politicians.
There’s no shortage of kids who could really use some quality time with a mentor to give them the chance to discover what we already love. The good news is there are already a few organizations hard at work putting the two together.
The secret of the opposition is in the children. If they’re the ones shaping the next generation of voters, they’re shaping the next generation of legislation which includes the future of hunting. I think it’s safe to say the proof is in the pudding.
We have to start actively and passionately pursuing the next generation like we pursue the game we hunt or we’re going to lose it. The next generation is worth fighting for.
For most of us, someone stepped up and took us out for the first time and it ignited in us something we never knew was there. Whether we realize it or not, that little fire has helped shape who we are.
We’re not powerless in this world. As a body, we need to stop gazing at millennials in disgust and take responsibility for our absence in the battle. We can’t change the past, but we can do something about the future. And that is exactly what’s at stake.
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