Posted on Sun, Nov. 06, 2005
Everyone agrees that the future of hunting lies in the hands of today's teenagers
Everyone agrees that the future of hunting lies in the hands of today's teenagers.
The average age of hunters continues to increase and to make matters worse; the numbers of young hunters have been declining for many years. This is not just a Pennsylvania problem, for it is also occurring across most of the United States.
I lived for hunting and fishing when I was a teenager -- archery, small game, groundhogs in the summer, deer, trout -- everything seemed to revolve around my two favorite outdoor sports.
My dad was a hunter and a fisherman, so it was only natural for his four sons to follow in his footsteps, but things are different now.
We didn't have video games, the internet and more than 100 TV channels to choose from.
Today, organized sports at the high school and even the junior high level also take there toll on potential hunters and anglers as youngsters are forced to make a choice. Football and basketball were confined events when I attended high school, not the year-round pursuits that they have become today.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has not ignored the youth hunter drain. In the early 1990s, in an attempt to combat the trend, the PGC and several sportsmen's clubs established the first youth field day event, which offered young participants the opportunity to learn wildlife identification, how to handle a firearm and other outdoor-related skills.
The events, now offered in Centre County and throughout the state, give young people a chance to use a bow and arrow, muzzleloader, shotgun and rifle in a supervised setting.
Next on the agenda was the establishment of special youth seasons. A youth squirrel hunt was started by the PGC in 1996 and expanded in 2004. The board of commissioners also created a youth spring gobbler season in 2004, a youth pheasant hunt in 2002 (expanded this fall) and a youth waterfowl hunt in 1996 (also expanded in 2005). Special antlerless deer harvesting opportunities began in 1998 and were expanded in 2001.
Youth opportunities this fall included a Youth Waterfowl Day on Sept. 24, that was open to holders of junior licenses ages 12-15. Youth squirrel and pheasant hunts were held Oct. 8-14.
Participants are not required to purchase a junior hunting license for the youth squirrel and pheasant hunts, but they must pass a Hunter-Trapper Education course. As with all junior hunting, those participants 12 and 13 years old must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or other family member 18 years or older, and those 14 and 15 years old must be accompanied by a person 18 years or older.
The PGC stocked 18,000 pheasants for the special youth hunt (the same as last year), which is no small investment on their part. Clubs sponsoring the special Youth Mentored hunt on Oct. 8, often purchase additional birds from private pheasant propagators.
New this year are the "youth only days" at the Middle Creek and Pymatuning controlled waterfowl hunting areas. The Middle Creek day is Saturday, Nov. 19. The Pymatuning day is Saturday, Nov. 26.
As the number of young hunters continued to decline, it was easy to wonder if all of the special seasons were worth the effort. However, last year began what most hope is a turnaround. According to PGC data, youth hunting licenses sales increased from 100,845 in 1998, to 109,644 in 2004.
"Much of this increase in youth license sales can be attributed to the expanded youth hunting opportunities we have been offering," PGC executive director Vern Ross said.
More efforts are in the works. Last year, legislation was enacted to allow one unlicensed individual accompanying a licensed hunter to participate in the hunt by means of calling or driving. The unlicensed individual is not permitted to carry a sporting arm or actually kill game.
The licensed hunter mentoring the unlicensed individual must be over 18 and can be accompanied by only one unlicensed person. The unlicensed participant must meet all safety orange requirements, and remain in visual and vocal contact with the licensed person at all times.
Rep. Ed Staback, who authored the new law, said "it is hoped that after this exposure, potential hunters will make the next steps of taking the needed hunter education course, purchasing a license, and beginning to build their own outdoor experiences."
Mentored youth hunting
Some have viewed the seemingly late start for hunting (age 12) as a hindrance to attracting new people to the sport. A committee of organizations has been working for over a year in an attempt to address that issue -- a new Mentored Youth Hunting proposal. The organizations involved include: the National Wild Turkey Federation; the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs; the United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania; the National Rifle Association; the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association; Big Brothers/Big Sisters Pass It On Program; the Quality Deer Management Association; the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; and the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance.
Under this proposal the mentor must be 21 years of age and the young hunter must be considered "ready" by the parent or legal guardian. The hunt will consist of one adult at least 21 years old and one youth, and they may have only one hunting device with them that is carried by the mentor while in transit. The youth hunter must be within arm's length of the mentor at all times.
At its October meeting, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Mentored Youth Hunting program. And the plan continues to move forward.
On Tuesday, the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee unanimously approved and sent to the Senate floor, a measure to create the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, which is designed to allow new and younger hunters to gain experience in hunting.
Sen. Robert Robbins, who amended House Bill 1690 said. "This program also would empower parents to make the decision about whether their son or daughter is ready to hunt in a mentor-controlled situation, rather than an arbitrary age limit that bars them from participating in a hunt."
One could easily say "follow the money," and it would be somewhat true in this case. The continuation of hunting is very important to the economy of Pennsylvania. According to a 1998 study by the Center for Rural PA, hunting and trapping have a $4.8 billion economic impact on the state and are responsible for supporting more than 45,000 jobs statewide.
However, hunting is much more important than this. Hunters and anglers have historically been the protectors of our forests and streams and leaders in conservation.
"There can be no greater way to instill values, provide the ideal time and place to teach conservation, respect, ethics and the responsibilities that we all have as caretakers of our streams and forests, than by adopting a Youth Mentored Hunting Program in Pennsylvania. Now more than ever, we need to work together to ensure that hunting and trapping are a part of our Commonwealth's future," said Ross.
Mentored youth spring turkey hunts
If you missed out on the fall youth hunts, Pennsylvania will hold a youth spring gobbler season on April 22, 2006.
The PGC is looking for hunting clubs to sponsor a mentored youth turkey hunt. Juniors participating in the special hunts have much to gain, but the sponsoring clubs can also benefit by demonstrating the importance and rewards gained from joining a local organization.
"Experienced turkey hunters have much to offer young hunters who are just starting out. Also, it can be personally fulfilling to know that you are an active part of helping to pass along Pennsylvania's hunting and trapping heritage to a new generation," Ross said.
The PGC offers a planning guide that was originally prepared by the Game Commission and the Pennsylvania State Chapter of Pheasants Forever for the mentored youth pheasant hunt.
The planning booklet offers a step-by-step guide on how to develop an organized mentored youth hunt, and includes: a sample timeline; suggested committees and assignments; general event planning considerations; and several sample forms and news releases.
The manual can be viewed on the agency's Web site (www.pgc.state.pa.us), by clicking on "Hunting & Trapping," then selecting "Youth Pheasant Hunt," and then selecting "Planning Guide."
Mark Nale, who lives in the Bald Eagle Valley, is a biology teacher and member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association. He can be reached at MarkAngler@aol.com.
www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/sports/13093876.htm
