Outdoors &
Education
Is Hunter
Recruitment
Important?
Dove hunting is a good introduction
to the outdoors for many youth.
By Daniel G. toole
Wildlife Biologist, alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
W
ithin the not-too-distant past, hunting enjoyed a larger percentage of
participation than it currently does. as a society, perhaps we have
become too busy to enjoy the slower pace of hunting opportunities.
there is certainly more competition for our leisure time and it is
easy to dedicate it to other activities.
the alabama Department of Conservation and natural resources is considering
several questions, such as, should we actively recruit new hunters, or just expect
that each generation will produce hunters? What is the value of increasing hunter
numbers for alabama?
Hunters have a tendency to think that almost everyone hunts or at least enjoys
our abundant wildlife resources. in rural communities, this may be true, but the
majority of us live in and around cities. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts make
up only a small percentage of alabama’s population. recruitment of new hunters
not only affects the future of hunting in alabama but also our state’s economy.
although an increasing proportion of society is under utilizing the many opportunities that exist in the outdoors, a strong group continues the hunting tradition
with a great deal of passion. Most typically, they are middle- to older-aged men
who have grown up hunting and still keep it as a priority. While the numbers are
not quite as high as they once were, these hunters are still passing on the tradition
of hunting by recruiting younger hunters. they are investing their time and effort
in children and young adults by teaching them the outdoor knowledge and skills
they have learned over the years. these hunters help ensure the future of the
hunting tradition is passed on to the next generation.
in addition to the value of passing on outdoor skills, recruiting younger hunters
into the sport of hunting also creates an economic benefit for all citizens. as with
any other sport or activity, equipment purchased for participation costs money.
Hunters annually purchase a variety of supplies, some of which are directly
related to hunting while others are not. Purchases of gasoline, food, overnight
lodging and many other supplies are typical for any activity, whereas firearms,
ammunition, treestands, archery equipment, game calls, camouflage clothing,
etc. are purchases specifically related to hunting. the revenue generated by
these purchases aids our economy in a significant way. according to a 2011
study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the total expenditure by hunters in
alabama is $1.2 billion annually. these expenditures support more than 27,000
jobs and contribute $104 million in state and local taxes. it is worth noting here
the alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries does not receive any
state tax dollars--so you would have to conclude that hunting does benefit our
state economically.
36 | BLAZE | Fall/Winter 2015
So, how do we best introduce young
people to hunting? One of the better
ways is