Some of my greatest childhood memories involve my dad and deer season (or any hunting season for that matter). For me, as a child, there was this unexplainable excitement from knowing dad would be waking up before the sun, putting on camo from head to toe to crawl into a deer stand. When dad was in the woods, my day was filled with anticipation, listening for gun shots and watching the gate to see if dad was walking back to the house with a trophy buck.
There is something rewarding about cleaning your own game and being able to feed your family. When times get tough for our family we depend a lot on hunting seasons in the Ozarks. For our family, hunting is not just a sport, its part of our livelihood. My dad has always been an advocate of eating what you hunt and only hunting to eat.
Hunting has just become an interest for me and it turns out it is a lot of work. I just bought my first bow this summer. Like all sports, it will take a lot of practice, so I don’t think I will be attempting it this fall.
Unfortunately, the hunting heritage is fading away for so many Americans. Let me explain. The number of American hunters 16 years old and older declined by 10 percent between 1996 and 2006. The number of Americans who fish was down 15 percent from 35.2 million in 1996 to 30 million in 2006. Let’s put that into perspective, there are 312 million people in the U.S. today.
Growing up, we spent a lot of time outside. When you grow up in the country, you have to be imaginative and create your own entertainment. There was no going to the mall or movie theaters and we didn’t have our own cell phones or computers. Our house didn’t even have satellite or Internet until I was a teen. My mom used to tell us, she didn’t want us stuck in front of a TV all day, and now looking back I’m glad she didn’t.
Studies show that youth today spend 7 hours per day plugged into media – TV, texting, video gaming – and only 7 minutes per day enjoying unstructured play outdoors. Another study shows that in a typical week, only 6 percent of children ages 9 to 13 play outside on their own. That’s just hard to imagine.
Fall is an enjoyable time in the Ozarks for so many people. When you’re in the field this fall, I encourage you to take a youth out with you. Show them your passion for the outdoors and teach them safety techniques.
Young hunters are required to take hunters education, but in some cases in Missouri, they may hunt along with experienced hunters through the apprentice hunter program. In my opinion hunter safety begins long before you ever get to the woods. If you do take a youth out with you this fall, teach them safety with firearms in the field and at home, show them how to respect other hunters and the property, and teach them how to be compliant with state laws and wildlife regulations.
Hunting heritage has been passed down from generation to generation; I just pray it doesn’t stop with my generation or my children’s. Best wishes and safe hunting,
