By Mike Roche
We frequently ask questions about what is going to happen in the future. No one has a crystal ball, and we look at things we do and have traditionally been involved with and in many cases, we see change seemingly happening in the way we live our lives.
Artificial intelligence is a hot topic, and we are constantly confronted with ‘news’ that we must critically review to determine if it is legitimate or being used to impact public sentiment. Obviously, this writer has great interest in hunting and the shooting sports and examines everything that seems to be related to those pursuits.
A recent survey entitled “Americans’ Attitudes Toward Legal, Regulated Fishing, Target/Sport Shooting, Hunting, and Trapping,” conducted by Responsive Management, was released last month by the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation, a think tank devoted to communicating trends in outdoor activities. The survey has appeared in a number of sources, including Outdoor Life Magazine. The research showed public approval of legal hunting dropped 4 percent over the past two years, from about 81 percent of Americans in 2021 to 77 percent this year. Approval of recreational shooting dropped 3 percent, and approval of recreational fishing also dropped 3 points, to 90 percent favorability.
Although not indicating “the end of the world” with data still showing a 77% approval rate, it is cause for concern and got my mind wandering, as it often does. Since the Massachusetts Hunter Education Course that the team of certified volunteers which I am a member of has been preparing for tomorrow’s class with over 50 expected at Mahar Regional in Orange, that seems like a good place to start.
My involvement in hunter ed goes back well over 40 years and evolved from my solo efforts as a teacher assisting the local game warden, to a team that first included my fellow educator Al Mexcur and then Massachusetts State Police Officer and DARE Officer Len Crossman. Since they both retired, Mahar Teacher Evelyn Cunha, her husband Anthony Cunha, career educator and MaharFish’N Game Club alumnus Tim Donovan and now Mahar grad Don Theriault are involved. Mahar teacher and Mahar Middle School Fish’N Game Club advisor Billy Devine is going through certification as a volunteer instructor, so the team is very strong and dedicated to providing a quality course of instruction to the attendees, who will then be prepared to be “safe, knowledgeable, responsible, and involved” hunters capable of not only participating but also helping others understand the vital role hunters play in conservation.
While pondering the future of hunting question, a number of other groups and activities came to mind. The MaharFish’N Game Club, founded by my father John E. Roche Jr. and his fellow teacher Gig Darey in 1957, is still going strong and providing students with a chance to learn so much about the outdoor world. A similar club still thrives at Franklin County Tech in Turners Falls. The Petersham Gun Club is actively involved in promoting youth involvement in hunting and the club actively supports young people’s involvement in youth hunting programs available from MassWildlife. The agency has instituted youth programs in pheasant, deer and turkey hunting and has, over the past several years, instituted support mechanisms to help people in all age groups, genders, and ethnic origins feel more comfortable getting involved in hunting.
The National Wild Turkey Federation is holding a unique event to help women get involved in turkey hunting, along with other hunting activities, such as a Ladies Pint Night at Stone Cow Brewery in Barre on Tuesday, Aug. 8. It promises to be a comfortable evening which will help provide information to women interested in learning more about turkey hunting and other hunting activities.
This past Saturday, Tessie and I took advantage of Hedgerow Hunt Club’s Saturday training session. Those attending included Luigi, originally from Italy, and a half dozen people whose interest in training pointing dogs brought them together. The group varied by age and gender and most traveled a distance to work with their dogs under Pat’s direction. Another way people can get involved in hunting activities—a win-win for sure.
You can find the survey online and see for yourself what the research has to say about the decline in public support for these activities, but it is clear that there is also a strong local effort on many fronts to maintain the traditional activities that so many treasure. The best thing you can do is to encourage and support someone who has an interest by giving your time to help them get involved.
There is growing effort to educate the public and make clear to legislators that HD44201 is not a good bill, and it will not deter crime but instead put unreasonable obstacles in place to severely limit legal and law-abiding gun owners from participating in traditional activities that we have long enjoyed safely. Please do your research and then make your voice heard.
Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the MaharFish’N Game Club, Counselor and Director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.