Take the “Mentor Pledge” and help to make a positive impact to reverse declining numbers.
Hunting in the United States is a vital part of our culture and although most Americans support hunting for food, involvement continues to decline as hunters age out and represent a smaller percentage of the overall population. Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever and Alps Outdoorz have partnered up this fall for a
“Mentor Pledge” taking place
now through December 31st and the mission of this partnership is simple, we want to create new hunter conservationists or reactivate those that have fallen away from hunting. We believe the best way to do so is through mentoring, so we are challenging current hunters to take someone new or lapsed afield with them this fall and by doing so you could win some incredible prizes including a guided pheasant hunt in South Dakota!
Fewer people are buying hunting licenses and heading outdoors than ever before and that worries us, if you care about your clean air, fresh water, healthy soils and wildlife it should concern you too. Hunters actively work to conserve the environment including wildlife species from pollinators to large mammals and the unique habitat they live in. Currently less than 5% of the U.S. population hunts, yet U.S. hunters/shooters fund roughly 80% of all wildlife conservation through self-imposed taxes, license fees, organizational memberships and donations. For many of us involved in the outdoors, hunting is a tradition and a natural part of our lives, unfortunately there are thousands of other interested people who would love to experience wild places and learn outdoor skills but don’t have access to quality hunting mentors.
Recruiting, retaining and reactivating hunters is a team effort and it takes passionate people stepping up to mentor others, so take the time to ignite the passion that can change someone’s life forever. One of the most incredible experiences as outdoor enthusiast is taking someone new with you to enjoy the beauty of mother nature, as it not only embodies an investment in wildlife conservation, but you’ll also find that it is deeply satisfying.
Once you have found someone interested in hunting, remember the initial experience is critical to the success in retaining them. The entire journey needs to go well so try to keep it short, simple and exciting! Consider things like telling the conservation story, being patient, bringing good snacks, explaining what you’re doing and involving them in the entire process. Having fun is the number one priority so allow them to bring their mobile devices, take lots of pictures and make sure they are comfortable so that you can create memories that will last a lifetime.
To enter the
“Mentor Pledge” participants can simply visit the
Alps website, read the application guidelines and complete the online entry form.
It’s up to all of us to educate others about our outdoor passions, because together we can make a difference. Our challenge is simple, will you help preserve our outdoor lifestyle by taking a new or lapsed hunter afield this year?