Teach a youngster Maine’s hunting heritage
MAINELY OUTDOORS
by Bill Graves
Slowly but surely a sad trend is developing among a particular segment of American sportsmen; fewer and fewer hunters are purchasing licenses and venturing afield each year.
Even here in the Pine Tree State, a notable decline is evident, especially in southern Maine. Even Aroostook County, a stronghold of hunting heritage, shows a wavering of shooting participants.
Contributed photo
Mentoring a young hunter will not only offer a lifelong pastime but in this case the neophyte sportsman gets the main ingredient for Thanksgiving dinner as well.
Oddly, hunting options in the Crown of Maine have increased over the last decade, more moose permits, an early native goose season and wild turkey seasons should entice more outdoorsmen to get out and about. Even the whitetail numbers are beginning to show improvement, and ducks, partridge, rabbit, bear and woodcock abound. Still the interest level of resident hunters seems to wane a bit each autumn.
Some folks blame the flagging economy. While this may in fact affect non-resident traveling sportsmen, most regional hunters shouldn’t suffer financially while enjoying local outings. I also hear that folks have to work longer hours and more days each week to make ends meet, so time for recreation is a factor. Single-parent families, where the breadwinner hasn’t the time, inclination or personal outdoor background to share are a true contributor to the decline in new hunters.
For every generation that spends less time prowling forest and field for game, less exposure for the youngsters in that family is the final result. If no one else steps in to teach that neophyte sportsman about the many aspects of shooting and hunting, there’s a negative domino effect to each successive generation.
Families used to hunt not just for the challenge and the excitement, but a good deal of money could be saved each year by putting meat on the table. While this is no longer a necessity for most families, this shouldn’t dampen the hunting tradition as well as the great taste of well-prepared venison tenderloin, roast wild goose or partridge stew to name a few tasty dishes.
My dad was an avid cast and blast sportsman and passed on his love of the outdoors to me starting at an early age. I got regular doses of woods lore, sportsmanship, safety, respect for the gear and the game as well as caring for and even cooking any and all wild game. I was a lucky lad, that’s why at every opportunity I try to help any youngster without a mentor learn more about hunting if they have an interest.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife recognized this problem as well. A number of years ago they instituted special youth hunting days. These unique days generally herald regular turkey, waterfowl, and deer seasons allowing young novice Mainers a day of their own to learn, enjoy, and perhaps have a better opportunity of success. We as dedicated sportsmen need to see that area youngsters get the chance to explore Maine’s hunting heritage so they eventually pass the tradition along to their family or friends.
If you’re an uncle or aunt, cousin, brother-in-law, grandparent, neighbor or family friend of a young person who shows outdoor interest but has no close relative with experience to introduce them to hunting, offer your time and knowledge. Don’t take this task lightly, it’s time consuming and must be safety-oriented and the child’s parents or parent must not only approve but also support the effort wholeheartedly. On a couple of occasions I’ve ended up starting with a single young apprentice and in short order had a father and son team to indoctrinate. It can be very rewarding for each party.
Introducing a youngster or their family to the local rod and gun club, fish and game club, archery club or seeing them into and through a hunter’s safety course can be a great first step to a long and eventful future of hunting or a wide variety of other outdoor ventures. Perhaps that new outdoorsman will eventually mentor several others, as he grows older.
The worse thing a true sportsman can do is nothing. The future hunters of this young generation depend on us to lead and guide them forward to a true tradition. It’s time to repay the special someone who introduced the hunting heritage to you. Take a young person afield this fall.
