The National Rifle Association joined several other organizations to appeal an erroneous decision of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, denying the pro-hunting organizations’ efforts to intervene in and defend the expansion of hunting opportunities on federal lands.
Most Americans do not disapprove of hunting. Then again, most Americans don’t really understand much about conservation. As we advocate for hunting’s role on our landscape, it’s important to note arguments that work and don’t work when speaking with nonhunters and anti-hunters.
Despite its importance as a good food source, as a wildlife-management tool and as a crucial source of funding for conservation in the United States, hunting remains vulnerable to misinformation and negative attention from ill-informed media, which can encourage support for restrictive legislation. The hunting community must appeal to non-hunters through common goals, motivations and values if our pastime is to remain a fixture in American life.
In 2021, ‘Join the Hunt’ will provide—thanks to the NRA Hunters’ Leadership Forum—research, tips and talking points to teach hunters how to talk about hunting’s positive impact.
To prevent the future decay of our sport, we need to be open and honest about what it is we do. We need to encourage new and prospective hunters with the unbiased, unapologetic and totally exciting truth: Hunting is just plain cool.
On November 27, governor Tom Wolf signed Senate Bill 147 into law, allowing hunting on three Sundays each calendar year; one during the deer rifle season, one during the deer archery season and another to be determined by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Debating an anti-hunter can quickly become a lesson in futility if you don’t have your arguments in order. Our author passes on a few tricks learned from a recent seminar on the topic.