“Category: Join the Hunt”

The organizations agree to cooperate on hunter recruitment, firearm training, wildlife conservation during 10-year agreement.

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.

Every aspiring hunter dreams of a perfect first experience, and every mentor longs to create it. But before the perfect scenario can be created, a mentor needs to understand just exactly what kind of temperament his charge may possess. Here’s a look at four types of hunters: Is one of them your pupil?

The moment a hunter encounters a curious spirit is an ideal time to influence a future educator, leader and voter. If we remain prepared for these opportunities, we can take advantage of them.

Allowing someone to tag along while you chase squirrels or rabbits may be the simplest, most effective way to recruit new hunters.

Sooner or later all hunters “have a moment” while hunting. It’s a good bet a new hunter will experience one the first time he takes a head of game. That possibility makes now a good time to prepare him for the emotions that may come this fall.

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.

You wouldn’t go hunting without proper preparation; likewise, it’s equally important to prepare to communicate effectively about hunting before you find yourself trying to defend it.

As we celebrate 150 years of the NRA and reflect on the progress generated by NRA hunter members over the years, let us also acknowledge that our once widely accepted pastime is being pushed to the fringes then commit to recruiting others to “Join the Hunt.”