The FRONT LINE
PUBLISHER Evan Heusinkveld
EDITOR Brian Lynn
ASSISTANT EDITOR Courtney Nicolson
ART DIRECTOR Brian Judge
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Andrew Tuchscherer
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Connie Mendoza
PRESIDENT ’ S MESSAGE
PRODUCTION MANAGER Melissa Williams
CONTRIBUTORS Adam Heggenstaller , Ron Spomer , John Taranto
As summer ’ s heat peaks , the legislative sessions in most states have cooled . It ’ s as welcome of a reprieve for our government affairs team as air conditioning during these August afternoons . The 2022 legislative season , which started in January , was a hot one with anti-hunting advocates attacking sportsmen at every level of government — in the legislatures , with petitions , at the commission level and during open-comment periods . They threw everything they had at us , and we , as a hunting community , came together and answered their attacks at every level . We worked together to protect our passions .
It ’ s in that same vein that each of us must engage with anti- and non-hunters year-round . Each of our individual actions and comments , ever important in the legislative and game-management processes , is just as important every single day on social media .
Today ’ s cancel culture embraces keyboard warriors who pretend to advocate for social justice , and hunters often find themselves in the crosshairs of those spewing ignorance of wildlife management while virtue signaling in their echo chambers .
The problem , as you ’ ll see discussed multiple times in this issue , is that these virtual trolls can pose real-life threats to each of us individually and to the entirety of the hunting community . The Sportsmen ’ s Alliance has helped several people — notably women and children — who have been targeted on social media , those who have been “ doxed ” and had their livelihoods threatened , as well as those appearing in mainstream media firestorms . That ’ s one level of threat , but in the Information Age , it ’ s easier than ever for someone to move from recreational outrage and spewing threats in their mother ’ s basement to showing up on your doorstep and doing physical harm to you or loved ones . Looking at the bigger picture , knee-jerk legislation from contrived social-media campaigns can ultimately end with the loss of a hunting season or method .
The answer to cancel culture hatred is thoughtfulness . Be thoughtful in what you post and how you respond to anti- and non-hunters , and we — each of us individually — can better protect our passions .
Evan Heusinkveld President and CEO
4 SPORTSMENSALLIANCE . ORG
The Sportsmen ’ s Advocate is the official publication of the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance . Our mission is to protect and advance America ’ s heritage of hunting , fishing and trapping by uniting sportsmen to protect against legal and legislative attacks by the animal-rights movement , win public support for outdoor sports , ensure the future of this heritage by involving families in the outdoor experience , and by promoting the sportsmen ’ s stewardship role in the scientific management of America ’ s fish and wildlife .
EXECUTIVE STAFF Evan Heusinkveld
President and CEO Jeff Nations Chief Financial Officer Todd Adkins Vice President , Government Affairs Brian Dowler Vice President , Membership Aaron Carmichael Vice President , Development Brian Lynn
Vice President , Communications and Marketing
Copyright 2022 by Outdoor Sportsman Group , 1040 6th Ave ., 17th Floor , New York , NY 10018 . All Rights Reserved . No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission . The Sportsmen ’ s Advocate is a trademark of the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance , 801 Kingsmill Parkway , Columbus , OH 43229 ; 614-888-4868 ; info @ sportsmensalliance . org .
The Publisher and authors make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy , completeness or timeliness of the information contained in this publication . Any reliance or use of the information is solely at your own risk , and the authors and Publisher disclaim any and all liability relating thereto . Any prices given in this issue were suggested prices at the press time and are subject to change . Some advertisements in this magazine may concern products that are not legally for sale to California residents or residents in other jurisdictions .