If you’ve ever moved to a new state, you know how challenging it can be to learn a new set of hunting regulations, as well as how difficult it can be to find a new place to hunt.
A hunter in a strange, new place is really a vulnerable hunter, meaning that it’s very easy for someone in such a position to drop out of hunting altogether.
Recently, Kayne Robinson, Executive Director of NRA General Operations, delivered a key message about the “vulnerable hunter.” The vulnerable hunter is an average Joe who works hard, has little disposable income, hunts mainly on public land and struggles to find good hunting areas. But he makes up more than two-thirds of American hunters—and a powerful combination of forces are actually driving him out of hunting, such as:
- Mountains of red tape;
- Nitpicking laws unconnected to game management;
- Ever-increasing costs;
- Hostile law enforcement; and
- Difficulty finding a place to hunt, or even sight-in before the season.
We were contacted recently by a hunter who gave up hunting after moving to Maryland from New Jersey because of overly complex regulations and too few places to hunt. Now, almost 30 years later, he is trying to get back into the sport and facing the same obstacles.
“Let me give you a little background about me and hunting in Maryland,” wrote Guy Keith Salomon of Gwynn Oak, Md., in an e-mail to NRAhuntersrights.org. “I moved from New Jersey about 27 years ago after hunting there for some time. At THAT time, hunting in New Jersey was the old fashioned way. Is the season open? Is the land posted or fenced? Look to the left, right and center of the field. Any houses? No. Good, go hunt. Imagine my surprise when I moved to Maryland. Even 27 years ago you needed a law degree to figure out when, where and what to shoot. So I gave up, dropped out of hunting and shooting and sold my stuff.
“Well, I got the bug to hunt again about two years ago. I re-armed and decided to tackle the anti-hunting bureaucracy again and finally got out in the field, only to find out after talking with some seasoned Maryland hunters, and even after checking and cross-checking the regulations, I still broke some rules. YIKES!
“In a nutshell, it is way too darn hard to get started in hunting in Maryland, between the laws and lack of adequate mentorship. Finding someone to hunt with is not like finding someone to bowl with.
“I had to teach myself to hunt in New Jersey and again in Maryland, and I’m still going through a learning curve. Everything I have learned is from reading, brief conversations, and trial and error, which is very time consuming. All of these things add up to a really big hill that middle-aged guys like me would give up on climbing.”
It’s worth noting that Salomon is an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and is working towards his certification in rife and shotgun. He is active in his shooting club, Monumental Rifle and Pistol Club, and assists with instructional shooting clinics offered there by NRA’s Women On Target program.
So Salomon is hardly a novice when it comes to hunting and shooting, yet he’s found it difficult to wade through the tangle of rules, regulations, red tape and restrictions when it comes to hunting in his adopted state of Maryland.
Isn’t there something wrong with this picture? Due to the fact that state game departments are funded almost entirely by hunters and anglers, and in a time when all states are looking for ways to find more hunters, there needs to be added emphasis on simplifying rules and communicating regulations to hunters.
If you find yourself in Salomon’s position, go to your state game and fish agency, explain the difficulty you’re having, ask specific questions, and make sure you get the answers you need. Many states are offering mentoring programs with special licenses and special seasons, even for adults, so make sure to found out if such a program exists in your state. Being proactive is key.
If you’re having trouble finding a place to hunt or shoot, NRAhuntersrights.org offers information on public lands open to hunting in each state, as well as a listing of NRA-affiliated clubs and ranges that offer shooting and sight-in opportunities.
And never hesitate to attend an outdoor show in your area or stop by a hunting club and ask questions. NRA Hunter Clinics are a tremendous resource for learning the ins and outs of hunting various species and are run by knowledgeable hunters who are more than willing to offer advice and assistance. These clinics are based on NRA’s Hunter Skills Series of books, which is a developing library of books on hunting, shooting and related activities. Together with the clinics, these books are resources to help beginning hunters learn basic hunting skills and tactics.
In addition, NRA is working at all levels to help simplify hunting regulations and turn back overly restrictive rules that have nothing to do with game management.
There are resources out there for new hunters or hunters in a new area—it’s just a matter of finding them. Take advantage of them, seek out the assistance you need and, above all, don’t let the obstacles drive you from the field.
