States , and this includes the countless organizations made up of individual hunters , anglers and trappers willing to contribute time and money to projects that benefit all fish and wildlife for all Americans to enjoy . It is a remarkable story and most in our community are aware of how central American sportsmen — and the organizations that represent them — are in the overall narrative of abundant fish and wildlife populations .
Against this backdrop , however , the numbers in the human dimension don ’ t lie . While we have done wonderful work to save , protect and promote fish and wildlife , the people at the heart of this success story are falling off a cliff year after year . If this continues , hunting and trapping participation will , at best , be reduced to small slivers of the American landscape with only a select few individuals enjoying our traditions .
Think Europe . If something doesn ’ t change , that ’ s precisely where we are headed . Future generations will have little chance of embracing our heritage the same way we do .
As an avid waterfowler , I often think of a future where bird watchers will congregate around a major wetland complex with many asking aloud where all the money for this “ wonderful place ” came from . One of the birders reads the info sign and then explains , “ Oh , it was those hunters back 50 years ago that paid for all this . I sure am glad they aren ’ t around anymore .”
Does this scenario sound like pure fiction or some conspiracy tale from the Internet ? Of course not . Everyone reading these words fully understands that this scenario is not only plausible , but probable . And truth be told , this bleak “ future ” is not the future at all for many sportsmen in multiple areas of the country . Hunters , trappers and , yes , even anglers get kicked out of wild areas all the time , even many places where we were the very funding source for the creation of such places to begin with .
Bringing this full circle , how much “ good ” news have you heard from various groups , states , agencies , etc ., about all the great conservation work accomplished over the past year , two years , five years , etc .? A ton . Or maybe you ’ ve heard about some survey where the American public “ fully supports ” hunting , fishing and trapping ? I ’ ll bet you ’ ve received so much “ good news ” it made your head hurt because it doesn ’ t line up with your own experience of seeing fewer and fewer hunters at your club , the range or even in your neighborhood . Fewer places to go hunting . More regulations about what you can and cannot use while in the field . More cost . More bureaucracy .
Is all of this “ loss ” acceptable because of all the other “ good ” news ? No , our community must do better than this . We cannot rely on our conservation successes alone , because this paradigm is clearly steering us into the ditch .
A New Future : Demanding Accountability Here at the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance , our mission demands we take a new course to protect the future . The shorthand of our mission is pretty simple , existing to protect and promote
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