Opinion: For the sake of our sport, hunters need to pay attention to the political landscape

Many of us use the outdoors – hunting and fishing – to escape.

We use the time in the woods or on the water as a reprieve from the daily grind of life – work, money, traffic, problems, demands… when we hunt or fish we leave it all behind.

Politics, too.

In the current political climate, the term “politics” is perceived as a dirty word triggering predictable reactions: “We’ve heard enough.”

“We don’t want to talk about it.”

“Give it a rest.”

I’ve seen posts on hunting and fishing-related social media pages that prohibit any political talk and ban anyone who dares mention anything related to government, elections or legislators.

I get it.

When it comes to hunting and fishing banter, intermixing a little political talk is a big no-no. Honestly, when I’m on a deer stand or in a trout stream, one of the last things I want to think about is politics.

Unfortunately, we’re at a time when turning a deaf ear to the legislative world can be a big mistake.

The majority of legislators at both the state and federal levels don’t hunt. I suspect nearly as many don’t even fish. As the ranks of hunters dwindle, their representation in the legislature could shrink as well.

It probably already is, and that includes right here in Pennsylvania.

As a result, during a period in our history when seemingly every norm of American society is being questioned, I believe it’s only a matter of time before hunting comes under fire as well.

In some instances, it already has.

Bear hunting in New Jersey, for example, is a mess.

In 2018, Gov. Phil Murphy prohibited bear hunting on state lands. Hunters can still pursue bruins elsewhere, but even that’s being challenged.

According to an article in www.northjersey.com, a group of organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States and the Sierra Club, are attempting to stop New Jersey’s archery bear season which begins on Oct. 12.

The reason?

Coronavirus.

The group contends that social distancing rules can’t be maintained when hunters drag a harvested bear from the woods and take it to a check station.

Therefore, hunters shouldn’t be allowed to hunt bears this year in New Jersey due to the virus.

As if the situation wasn’t already steeped in politics, the group opposing the hunt is being led by a former New Jersey state senator.

But the Garden State isn’t the only place where outdoor pursuits have come under attack over the last few years.

Last year in Maine, a bill that would’ve established a spring bear hunt failed to make it out of committee.

Perhaps most concerning of all was a bill introduced in the Vermont state legislature that not only would’ve eliminated bear hunting with dogs, but create a new government panel to represent those residents who don’t hunt, fish or trap. The panel would recommend changes in wildlife management to the state legislature, in effect allowing non-hunters a voice.

The bill was eventually withdrawn before a vote, but it was an amazingly close-call that would’ve opened the door for anti-hunting sentiment to have a voice in how wildlife is managed in the state.

If anything, the Vermont example proves there are legislators out there willing to support anti-hunting stances. And it’s not just Vermont.

Trapping has come under attack in, of all places, Montana, and in New Mexico there was a push this year to ban trapping on all public lands.

That concept didn’t become a reality, but New Mexico trappers were hit with more restrictions, including restrictions on where traps could be set, and a requirement mandating anyone purchasing a trapping license to undergo an education course first.

While all of this is going on in other states, could something similar happen in Pennsylvania?

Yes.

It’s no secret that most of our state legislators don’t hunt – including some who sit on the Game and Fish Committees. Pennsylvania is also home to large metropolitan areas – Philadelphia and Pittsburgh – and it seems anti-hunting movements frequently emanate from urban areas because those are the people most disconnected from how things work in the natural world.

With that in mind, it’s easy to see how anti-hunting or trapping ideas could gain traction on the legislative front.

Sure, our outdoor traditions in Pennsylvania remain strong and, right now, many legislators are committed to protecting them.

But we can never take it for granted, especially in today’s political climate. 

It’s OK to talk politics and become involved.

In fact, for the sake of hunting and fishing, it’s a necessity right now.

• This column originally appeared in PA Outdoor News.