© 2011 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.
I saw some statistics recently, and hunter participation is at its lowest in thirty years. I became interested in waterfowling through my friend Scott Croner at Nebraska Hunting Company. Doing my research, I came to find out that waterfowlers in particular have lost almost 30% participation. I asked myself what could be the problem? In general, why does it appear that there are less and less hunters? Googleing for answers, I found myself reading the Fishing and Hunting Recruitment and Retention Addendum over the course of several nights, trying to gain some insight as to why this was happening.
As much as the AR activists would like to take credit for the downturn in numbers, it's not the animal rights people and their misinformation and propaganda, it all boils down to...
Us.
And it is time we cut the crap and did something.
Access seems to be the biggest problem facing any sportsman today. Over crowded public hunting areas, and pay to hunt acreage have made hunting either inconvenient, or cost prohibitive. Especially near the metroplolitan areas of the United States, the East and West coasts, getting to good public hunting land can be exasperating if not downright next to impossible.
Remember over 75% of the US population is concentrated in urban areas. And the two areas with the largest populations, the New England area and the Pacific regions, have the lowest number of persons entering the field, at less than 4%. Much of this is due to a low initiation rate. City folk don't hunt that much, therefore their kids, friends, or neighbors don't either. Those that do, tend to be reticent about it due to fears of the neighbors reactions or opinions.
But there are simple positive steps that each and every one of us could take to increase recruitment, and counter negative sterotypes and fears. Here are some examples.
What if each and every one of us recruited a new hunter every season? While it might not double active participants in the field, it would more than double the number of people that would see through the AR charade, and come to see hunters and outdoorsmen as conservators of the resources.
Take a neighbor shooting. Invite a neighbor to join you at the range. Bring a twenty-two, and start him or her off right. Concentrate on their shooting, and forget about yours. Whet their appetite and see where it leads.
Take up small game hunting. Small game is more accessible than even deer hunting, and far less expensive. Unless you're all up into that LL Beam look... Squirrel is a perenial favorite, and if you take the time to show them how to prepare a fricasse, you will have made a small game hunting convert.
Make an effort to help someone new get to and pass your state Hunter Safety Course. Sit through the classes with your acolyte, and share your knowledge.
If you have a lease, dedicate a weekend to taking a new or potential hunter with you. Talk to all your fellow lease holders, and organize a hunt, just for a neophyte hunter. If you are one of the fortunate few to have a good lease, by golly, let folks come in and harvest some does. Take the time to explain to the need for keeping a good balance between bucks and does, and if they are lucky enough to connect, teach them all you know about game meat preparation. Make a big deal out of it because it is a big deal!
Spend a couple of bucks, and put out 20 fliers from a the National Shooting Sports Foundation NSSF, or the National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) (Click for PDF Hunter and Angler Fact Sheet.) Share them with friends, colleagues, and others when you deem it appropriate. Remember, the only way to disarm the animal rights zealots and the anti-gun fanatics, is with good factual information.
I'm sure there are other great ideas that you can come up with so feel free to share them with us!
Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Shindand Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...
Showing posts with label Facts About Hunting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Facts About Hunting. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
A Couple of Bucks and a World of a Difference
© 2009, 2010 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.
Well it's that time of year again, the holidays have come and gone, Spring hunting season is a couple of months away,and we are all thinking about the summer that is far off!
But let's not forget our responsibilities to educate and elucidate for our non-sporting friends and neighbors.
The National Hunting and Fishing Day Organization has several assets available for the conservationist to use. Among them is this easily printed PDF with great facts on the leadership and conservation that Hunters and Anglers provide in the great outdoors.
Take a few moments, and print out a dozen copies, (it's only a single side), and it won't even cost you a couple of bucks! Share them with non-hunting or non-fishing friends and let them know the facts about hunters and anglers, it will make aworld of a difference!
Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Shindand Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...
Though he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com.
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.
Hunter and Angler Fact Sheet!
Well it's that time of year again, the holidays have come and gone, Spring hunting season is a couple of months away,and we are all thinking about the summer that is far off!
Photo Credit: UW Collection
Ummm... Yeah...
But let's not forget our responsibilities to educate and elucidate for our non-sporting friends and neighbors.
The National Hunting and Fishing Day Organization has several assets available for the conservationist to use. Among them is this easily printed PDF with great facts on the leadership and conservation that Hunters and Anglers provide in the great outdoors.
Click below for PDF
Hunter and Angler Fact Sheet
Hunter and Angler Fact Sheet
Take a few moments, and print out a dozen copies, (it's only a single side), and it won't even cost you a couple of bucks! Share them with non-hunting or non-fishing friends and let them know the facts about hunters and anglers, it will make aworld of a difference!
Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Shindand Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...
Though he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com.
Monday, September 28, 2009
More Facts About Hunting #1
© 2009 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.
Hello everyone!
I am going to start a new, but occasional series titled: "More Facts About Hunting." They will usually be brief but informative, and describe the actions taken by sportsmen as conservationists and stewards.
With this series I will help everyone arm themselves with the facts so that you can help defend our cherished sport.
The NWTF of Alabama State has assisted directly in the purchase and acquisition of 8430 acres of wildlife habitat in the Lauderdale Wildlife Management Area. The majority of the purchases could not have been made if the NWTF had not assisted the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The DCNR as neither the flexibility, resources, or funds to acquire these valuable parcels. But with the help of the NWTF they were able to do so. Furthermore, the NWTF's has committed to allocating one-fifth of their funds toward land purchases and provides the DCNR a source of acquisition money every year.
The National Wild Turkey Federation has consistently worked to improve access to hunting s,throughout the United States. Spending more than $9.4 million since 1987 to obtain more than 413,000 acres for hunting, the NWTF has helped maintain the North American hunting tradition of accessibility to hunters.Their purchases help maintain and secure wildlife habitat for the enjoyment of everyone.
"The National Wild Turkey Federation is a national nonprofit conservation and hunting organization that, along with its volunteers, partners and sponsors, has worked for the conservation of the wild turkey and preservation of the hunting tradition. When the NWTF was established in 1973, there were only 1.3 million wild turkeys. Today that number stands at more than seven million birds throughout North America, and hunting seasons have been established in 49 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico." NWTF About Us
Best regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.
More Facts about Hunting
Hello everyone!
I am going to start a new, but occasional series titled: "More Facts About Hunting." They will usually be brief but informative, and describe the actions taken by sportsmen as conservationists and stewards.
With this series I will help everyone arm themselves with the facts so that you can help defend our cherished sport.
The Alabama Chapter of The National Wild Turkey Federation
Today I highlight the contributions made by the chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation in Alabama.The NWTF of Alabama State has assisted directly in the purchase and acquisition of 8430 acres of wildlife habitat in the Lauderdale Wildlife Management Area. The majority of the purchases could not have been made if the NWTF had not assisted the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The DCNR as neither the flexibility, resources, or funds to acquire these valuable parcels. But with the help of the NWTF they were able to do so. Furthermore, the NWTF's has committed to allocating one-fifth of their funds toward land purchases and provides the DCNR a source of acquisition money every year.
The National Wild Turkey Federation has consistently worked to improve access to hunting s,throughout the United States. Spending more than $9.4 million since 1987 to obtain more than 413,000 acres for hunting, the NWTF has helped maintain the North American hunting tradition of accessibility to hunters.Their purchases help maintain and secure wildlife habitat for the enjoyment of everyone.
"The National Wild Turkey Federation is a national nonprofit conservation and hunting organization that, along with its volunteers, partners and sponsors, has worked for the conservation of the wild turkey and preservation of the hunting tradition. When the NWTF was established in 1973, there were only 1.3 million wild turkeys. Today that number stands at more than seven million birds throughout North America, and hunting seasons have been established in 49 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico." NWTF About Us
Best regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...
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