It ’ s easy to become disenchanted when you look at the depth and breadth of attacks sportsmen face every legislative session . A neverending stream of bills threaten to undermine hunting and trapping in old and new ways alike . But one way forward is expanding education and equipment use . Normalizing hunting and shooting in the public school system introduces students to aspects of our activities that they may not receive at home . Education undermines ignorance — a major hurdle for us in mainstream media — and the more people , especially youth , who understand our activities , the better . The Sportsmen ’ s Alliance is working to this very end by introducing an innovative high-school curriculum that applies scientific principles through the lens of conservation while explaining the North American model ( see page 45 ). Likewise , two states have introduced legislation that pushes hunting and shooting education forward .
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Colorado , which just defeated a serious threat from legislation that would have banned mountain lion and bobcat hunting , has introduced House Bill 1168 . It passed out of the House with strong bipartisan support and at press time awaited further hearings . The legislation gives local schools the ability to provide a hunter education course to seventh graders and as an elective class to any other grade .
In Kansas , Senate Bill 522 provides school districts the ability to teach the National Rifle Association ’ s Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program from kindergarten through eighth grade and the Department of Wildlife and Parks ’ Hunter Education Program from grades six through 12 .
Beyond education , expanding equipment and logical , ethical technology use are important in the moral fight to protect our passions , as well as attracting new participants within our ranks . Two western states have done so .
Idaho Gov . Brad Little signed legislation allowing the use of lighted nocks
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Teaching hunter-ed courses in schools benefits youngsters , while permitting mechanical broadheads increases bowhunters ’ options .
and mechanical broadheads for archery seasons . Bill sponsor State Rep . Brandon Mitchell noted that Idaho was the last state to permit these useful tools for finding arrows and making effective kills .
The Utah legislature sent a bill to Gov . Spencer Cox that would permit the use of air rifles that generate at least 2,000 pounds per square inch to be used for hunting . Senate Bill 205 allows the Utah Wildlife Board and the Division of Wildlife Resources to determine which species may be hunted with air rifles . Gov . Cox ’ s signature would allow Utah to join most other states that also allow air rifles for hunting .
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