If I may I'd like to say something on the subject of hunting and its demise as a activity that attracts young people. I will speak from what I know, not to ignore Mr. Brown's message concerning waterfowling. Perhaps it will apply?
At one time hunting was a "right of passage" to manhood. At a certain age a young man was given a gun, of all things, taught to use it and given a chance to provide food for the family table. I am not talking about the 18hundreds or even the early 19hundreds here. Perhaps it was his responsibilty to earn the small sum to purchase his license. Later he would find ways to acquire shells, a knife and specific clothing and equipement to assist him in his expanding exploration of the activity. He would feel a sense of pride in his skill to take game and his ability to contribute to the family table. He would also develope a strong affinity for the game he hunted and the other species he encountered while in the field. He learned to not only take game skillfully, but to care for it once it was on the ground. Perhaps and most likely he learned to prepare it for the table. Through this process of learning the activity became an important part of his life, elements of which overflowed to other things that required thought and care. And then came what?
The answer to that question I am unsure. You'll note I use "he" when addressing the young hunter and as a hunter without children of my own, I am proud that some of my neices showed some interest in hunting-at least to a point that today they are not "anti" to it, but I think it is most important that boys hunt. I know we should include the girls and perhaps it is the old chauvinist coming out, but I don't really see girls as the answer to the salvation of hunting, contributing indeed, but not the answer.
Perhaps it is to late and the future of wildlife is in the hands of the scientist/environmentalist and the politicians willing to see that their paid from tax dollars. Money, after all, is what it is mostly about today. We are a bit beyond the young person taking his shotgun to the water with his small collection of decoys and bringing home a main course feeling he has made a contribution. In Pennsylvania the licenses alone will cost him $34.00. Perhaps waterfowling isn't the best example here? How about the cottontail rabbit? WHO WANTS TO EAT ONE OF THOSE!? For $16.00, a hunter safety course, and with 250 square inches of fluorescense orange-screaming: careless, greedy, killer- a young boy or girl can hunt, if they have a parent that thinks it is money and time well spent and they can find a place worth pursuing it. We have youth pheasant hunts in PA. Sportsmen groups do the work and the PA game Commission provides the birds, not by game management, but by dollars earned through license sales. there are very few reproducing wild pheasants in PA. The head of our game department was asked recently about power generating windmills and state gamelands, his reply: "if the surrounding private land has them then the gamelands might as well too." ??!!! He also says that wildlife would benefit from greater areas of regenerating timber cuts. We don't have those on gamelands because timber prices are low.
My 13 year old nephew hunts! Sadley he has never taken game other than pen raised pheasants on regulated shooting grounds. I'll have to ask him what this teaches him about wildlife and the environment, he is a bright and thoughtful young man, but he still is only 13. At this point I'd hate to say anything about his Winchester 1300.
Oh well I think I'll shut up now. I've bored myself too.
Thank-you,
Kurt
