Many things have changed since the 70’s and 80’s when we “caught the hunting bug”.  Back then there weren’t any hunting shows, limited printed media and, everything we learned was via family and friends.  It was different times.  Hunting too at that time had different purposes.  We hunted to fill our freezers and as a hobby.  These were the times when TVs didn’t have 300 channels, no Netflix, no video games and kids got outside.

Even if you were a jock, sports had seasons with no traveling teams that played year around and, above all, no cell phones.  The point is, if you grew up in the country or even slightly rural, or maybe even if you didn’t really have a passion for hunting, you hunted to have something to do.  I am not sure if that is right or wrong but what I do know is that based on recent surveys, our generation outnumbers the later generations in pure hunter numbers tremendously so obviously, most of us from those generations stuck with hunting regardless of our hunting upbringing.

To the anti, this may appear to be a good thing less hunters, less animals meeting their fate however, what those anti’s fail to realize is the largest conservation group in the world is hunters.  Hunters pour more blood, sweat, tears and most importantly money into conservation and public lands each year than any other group of outdoor enthusiasts.  Where will we be when this well runs dry?

One of MDI’s beliefs is we need to get more kids afield and, though it’s not as easy today with all the aforementioned distractions, it is a must for the future of our sport and our public lands.  Once these traditions are gone, they will be gone forever and so will these public lands that so many enjoy, for so many reasons.

Take a young person afield.  Teach them the true beauty of God’s creations, how to be good conservationists, ethical hunters and good stewards of the land.