Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Greg Staunton Get Involved: Preserve Your State’s Hunting Heritage T Studies show that youth who start hunting at a younger age are more likely to remain hunters. he future of hunting is in the hands of today’s young hunters. We all know that. If hunting is to continue, and hopefully grow, bringing young hunters into our ranks is vital. A lot of organizations in and out of the industry are working to increase the number of young hunters. They report a lot of good news, as well as some not-so-good news. Nebraska is one state that is proactive in its efforts to introduce young hunters to the field at earlier ages than previously allowed by law. Legislative Bill 690 would lower the mentored deer-hunting age in the state from 12 to 10. The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), among other outdoor organizations, is urging enactment of the bill. “Our studies show that mentored youth hunters are the safest in the field, and also youth who start hunting at a younger age are more likely to remain hunters for life,” said Brett Bayer, NWTF Nebraska state chapter president. The NWTF, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) are working together through the Families Afield initiative to remove barriers to youth hunting. With additional support from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and state and local sportsmen’s organizations, this partnership has helped to influence 21 states to pass legislation similar to Nebraska’s. Data from six of those states show that apprentice hunting programs introduced more than 35,000 young people to America’s outdoor tradition of hunting. “Allowing mentors to get young people interested in hunting at an early age lays the foundation for being good conservationists,” said NWTF CEO Rob Keck. “By removing barriers at the state level, we’re ensuring our hunting heritage remains strong.” NWTF Regional Biologist Brandon Houck notes, “Hunters help fuel Nebraska’s economy with the dollars they spend on their sport and on travel. Signing this bill into law means great things not only for Nebraska, but for the future of wildlife conservation as well.” Note the reference to “economy.” We’ll talk about that later. NWTF Try Before You Buy V irginia also has good news for hunters. In early February, the Apprentice Hunting License legislation passed unanimously in both houses of the Virginia Assembly. The new legislation will allow newcomers to experience the outdoors and participate in the traditions of hunting prior to taking the 10-hour Hunter Education course. It’s being referred to as “try-before-you-buy.” Essentially, parents, family members and adult mentors will be able to take young people hunting on a trial-run basis. The next step would be to take the education course and become a fully licensed hunter. “The Apprentice Hunting License Bill is a valuable recruitment tool to introduce people to the outdoors — not only youngsters, but adults as well,” said Delegate Scott Ligamfelter, who introduced the bill in the Virginia House of Delegates. “My hope is that families and young people who take advantage of this opportunity will come to enjoy the natural resources of Virginia much as the 857,000 resident sportsmen and those 278,000 visitors who travel here from other states now do. We can never forget how valuable sportsmen are to our state’s economy.” There’s another “economy” reference. MARCH 2008 NWTF Many states have programs that encourage youngsters to take up hunting with adult mentors. www.shootingindustry.com 18