Future Conservation-Decision Makers

 …here are some facts provided by the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI):

* <50% of students graduating with a Wildlife Biology/Management degree have experience with hunting
* ~30% of all students graduating from Natural Resource Programs have experience with hunting
* By 2017, a 70% turnover of Wildlife Professionals will have occurred

…This simply means: there is a very good chance that, in the very-near future,  those making decisions affecting the sport of hunting will have no idea of what hunting is truly all about…some may understand that hunting can be (and is) a mangament tool – most should have at least some grasp on the funding hunting & shooting provides for conservation & wildlife managment (billions each year!)…however, if you ask most sportsmen & outdoors-women why they hunt they will say things like: “It’s Fun“, “Time with Friends & Family” or even “Being part of Nature” – I have yet to have some tell me they took up the sport because they felt it was their civic duty to manage the resource or because they think they are obligated to provide dollars for a state or federal agency…

“It’s a problem when [our staff] elevate to policy-making positions and begin regulating hunting and they’ve never been a participant themselves.” - quote from a State Wildlife Agency Director (provided by WMI)

…enter the Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow (CLfT) Program – an intense 3 1/2 day workshop for Natural Resource students that dives deep into this very issue…CLfT is extremely clear in it’s objectives: help participants understand the roles, values & issues of hunting; to better understand the hunter themselves -  who they are & why they hunt; and to experience the hunt – CLfT is NOT designed to recruit or create hunters…

…this past week & weekend we held our annual CLfT workshop for students from the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), Kansas State and a few other schools…having served as an Instructor for a few years, I am still amazed at the impact this program has on its students – and on its Instructors…the ‘light-bulb‘ moments that many participants experience during the weekend are truly inspiring… each student is unique and walks away from the program with their own experiences and thoughts, but few leave with the same impression of hunting that they came with – and all come away better equipped for a career in the field of conservation…

hershy

for more info check out: www.clft.org