Censored
Hunters are the backbone of conservation and wildlife management in this country . Through license sales and excise taxes paid on firearms , ammunition and other items , as well as the funding and hard work of numerous conservation organizations , hunters don ’ t just talk the talk — they walk the walk , one muddy bootstep at a time .
However , as our ranks dwindle every year , animal-rights activists and organizations seize upon those losses to signal the need to end the North American Model of Conservation ( see page 36 ).
In response , every state fish and wildlife agency and conservation organization in the nation has activated some form of a recruitment , retention and reactivation program to bring new hunters into the fold , to keep them hunting and to get those who have stopped hunting started again .
The Sportsmen ’ s Alliance has introduced millions of families to the outdoors through youth programming and apprentice-licensing legislation in 42 states . Today , we have Conservation Science , which explains , through a for-credit science course , the North American model to thousands of high-school students every year .
All the programming makes it easier to find someone to mentor . Social media accounts like Soul Seekers and apps like Go Wild allow you to watch and participate before committing . These tools are designed to make it easier to connect and help , but anything you can do does help . Here ’ s how two employees of the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance help in their own way , which you can do , too .
BRIAN LYNN , VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING I ’ m going to be honest . I don ’ t like most people , especially strangers . Especially strangers who like to talk . I prefer the tranquility of chilling with a good gundog . Or any dog . If people lived their lives like dogs , each of us would be happier and the world a better place . I also don ’ t like to hang out with groups of people and sing " Kumbaya ," pretending we ’ re changing the world . I ’ ve become the middle-aged , jaded writer I knew was inevitable .
What I do like , however , is connecting with an individual or small group and doing something , anything — adventure , a philosophical “ debate ,” learning or teaching something new . Shared experiences are important to me , and what I value . These are the parameters I work best within and where I try to make a difference , as in these instances over the last year .
HUNTING WITH TUCKER AND COOPER My son , Tucker , has finally shown interest in hunting . I ’ ve encouraged him for years and taken him with me on hunts , even helping him get a doe when he was 12 under an apprentice license . To my disappointment , he thought it was all just “ OK .”
Then , suddenly , this last year , he wanted to go . It might have had something to do with his cousin , Cooper , deciding to hunt last season , even though we didn ’ t get him anything . This season Tucker was happy to go with me to place trail cams in the August heat , read sign and develop a plan . We shot , prepared and went hunting . All things we ’ d
WINTER 2023 25