| I would like to start off by saying that there is a | | | | Hunting" and this is something that we as hunting |
| huge problem today in how people look at hunting. | | | | partners can do for the rest of our lives together. |
| Hunting is one of our oldest traditions in the world | | | | Not too many activities out there that you can do |
| and is admired by so many that have the | | | | that, is there? It is a lifetime activity that builds a |
| OPPORTUNITY to hunt. What most people don't | | | | lifetime of memories for our family and friends. |
| understand is that hunting isn't about killing | | | | Now let's get back to the hunting it's self. We |
| something; it is a process at which we educate | | | | don't encourage kids to just kill something; we |
| our youth about responsibility. Think about it, how | | | | teach them the process of hunting. The process |
| much responsibility are we putting on a kid in | | | | is really what we want to instill in them, not the |
| giving him or her a firearm. Now don't go jumping | | | | kill. Once a kid gets the passion for the chase |
| the gun and thinking that we are just going to | | | | then you have yourself a full fledged hunter. We |
| load a gun and hand if off to a youth and say | | | | want to encourage them to pick and choose the |
| have fun and don't poke your eye out. This is | | | | game they harvest and at the same time this is |
| where our education and responsibility about how | | | | how we teach them the cycle of life. How many |
| to handle a firearm properly comes in affect. | | | | times have you or someone you know been |
| In fact there are more injuries in everyday sports | | | | hunting and bring nothing home. If you are a true |
| than in hunting. Hunting has been deemed one of | | | | hunter, it happens a lot. Along with all of the |
| the safest sports you can participate in. According | | | | hunting it will teach kids about nature, |
| to a 2006 study done by Industry Intelligence | | | | conservation and dedication to doing something |
| Reports, hunting is the safest sport to participate | | | | they love. |
| in. There were only 898 hunting incidents in 2003 | | | | So, make time to get your kids out hunting and |
| and there was 28,414 cheerleading accidents that | | | | fishing because you know as well as I do that we |
| year; 17,916 bowling; 37,131 golf; 561, 444 | | | | make time for everything else. I can't tell you |
| basketball and so on. As you can see by these | | | | how much enjoyment and quality time I get by |
| stats, hunting is safer than a lot of your common | | | | me and my daughter hunting. Our youth hunters |
| everyday sports. For the most part, hunting is | | | | today are at an all time low; in fact our hunting |
| usually done by people who are safe, highly | | | | population is at an all time low. In the 1970's we |
| trained, careful and they try to respect others. | | | | had 20 million hunters and now we only have a |
| Being a responsible hunter means you respect the | | | | little over 12 million and the brunt of this is |
| weapon, the game, the land and others that use | | | | because we CHOOSE to do other things over |
| it. Teaching our kids some respect isn't really a | | | | hunting. Do you realize that only 12% of our |
| bad thing now is it? Hunting accidents are even | | | | hunters are under the age of 25 and 24% are |
| lower now and other sporting accidents continue | | | | over 55 and here is the most disturbing fact of all. |
| to rise. | | | | We have only had a 38% newcomer ratio in the |
| One of the most important parts about hunting | | | | past 15years. WOW, it's time to take action and |
| with kids or our own children is that we are | | | | we can help, check us out on the web. |
| passing on and "Preserving the Family Tradition of | | | | |