As an outdoor writer, I am asked all the time why I do what I do?
Is it because you enjoy showing off when you catch a big fish, or shoot a big buck, they’d ask??
Well, for me, this Blog and every other article or book I’ve ever worked on, was about sharing my passion for hunting, fishing and the Great Outdoors.
And if you don’t think conservationists are passionate about hunting and fishing, just read back through some of the comments I’ve received here over the past 6 weeks!
That passion was clearly evident a few years back when my Outdoors Column was first on the chopping block. At the first sign it was up for cancellation, the hunting and fishing community had a powwow and formulated a plan. A passionate GD plan too!
Within one day, Publisher Rick Gibbons was bombarded with, I am told, over 500 letters of complaint! Now do you think that’s passion? Unfortunately SUN Media cutbacks were out of his hands.
Yup, we hunters and fishermen have been forced to fight for our heritage for centuries, and man I tell you we are damn strong fighters and our heart is always in it!
We fight fairly too, none of this childish pie in the face routine. We choose to arm ourselves with reason, common-sense and history as our ammunition..and of course, a butt load of passion!
Without it, I would not exist or feel the need to rant on such as this..but hey, passion keeps my fires burning strong and I hope it does for you as well.
Outdoorsguy
Why do I trap you ask? It keeps me off the couch, in the bush and it makes me sleep good…..and to think some people used to do it for money.
Quote “conservationists are passionate about hunting and fishing”
Not only that Jeff but contrary to popular belief by many groups, people who hunt trap and fish are in fact conservationist ambassadors as well.
Fur Harvesters of North Bay sum it up best however: “Kids who hunt, trap and fish don’t mug little old ladies”
Why as a “Hunter”, am I a member of the organising Committees of the local Chapters of Ducks Unlimited Canada, Delta Waterfowl, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Well among other things, I’m a conservationist, that spend many hours as a volunteer meeting people, raising Funds so money can go back for proper habitat for these various game, Funds that help youth, and women understand and enjoy the outdoors and the ethics of harvesting and conservation. Also, all the money I spend myself towards these organisations to help them reach their goals and objectives.
Among other things, I don’t harvest what I don’t eat, and many times I came back from an outhing empty handed from either no encounters and /or even my choice of not harvesting that day and just envoying nature. The time I spend in the woods, I also observe the health / quantity of the animals and my findings help biologists make decisions for future hunting seasons quots, etc.
I buy my expensive hunting licenses that not only give me the right to participate in hunting seasons, but I also act as a “Hunter” in helping balancing the population of game species, which help the Provincial Ministries in their control of vehicle encounters with game, etc., which if it was not for our licenses fees, the ordinary taxpayers, would see their annual taxes go up by %%%, since the Ministry would have to hire more people to control and dispose of nuisance animals that the Public requires them to control.
I do my part the best I can. Although my hobby might not be understood by some, my conservation work is. A dillema for sure.
To be honest, I wonder how many members of varios organisation (e.g., PETA, etc.) put in as much effort, money
and help to enable proper authorities to manage directly the health and habitat of these animals.
Guess, those organisations spend more money and efforts in sometime wrongfull publicity and stunts towards the maority of people not aware of what real conservation is all about. Guess the World is not perfect, but certainly gullable.
Thanks for the comment LG..your passion and commitment to hunting, fishing and conservation is quite evident!
Outdoorguy