National Hunting and Fishing Day

By Tom Lester
www.fishingprostaff.com

If you have read some of my previous articles, you know that I credit my father and grandfather with teaching me to love the outdoors. They made time in their busy schedules to take me out to the field or water and expose me to the great things the outdoors has to offer. I will always be grateful and thankful that I had such wonderful role models that loved me enough to educate me on how to hunt and fish.

As you know, many of today’s youth have role models that, well, let’s say, are not exactly "the cream of the crop". Yes, I am speaking about many of our professional athletes. Drugs, alcohol, wild partying and lawlessness run abundant within many circles in professional athletics. Not exactly the type of role models I want for my daughters and son.

September 26th is National Hunting and Fishing Day across America. It marks an opportunity for those of us that love the outdoors to expose a non-hunter or fisherperson to the sports that we enjoy. This is a great time to become a role model yourself, rather than leave the job to some of the aforementioned type of role models our kids have to turn towards.

So often I hear folks say, "kids today aren’t like we use to be." There’s a reason for that. Some of the reasons we have no control over, but some we do. If you aren’t willing to help teach them, who will? Who’s responsibility is it? If not yours, then who’s? Someone has to step up and try to make a difference. That someone is you.

If you enjoy the outdoors, please give some thought to taking someone; young or old, male or female, to the field or water and show them what they might be missing. You don’t have to do it next Saturday on National Hunting and Fishing Day, but do it some Saturday.

The State of Texas provides hunters and fisherpersons special days to go out to experience and share the outdoors. Before deer season opens in November, we have a two day deer and turkey hunting season for our Texas youth. This year it is from October 31st - November 1st. This is a great time to take to the field with a youngster, teach them how to hunt and do it without interfering with your hunting season. Be sure you review the rules and regulations before going.

Each year, Texas also provides a day of fishing that requires no license, even for adults. Usually, this is on the first Saturday in June. Both of these days provide a great opportunity to take a young person hunting or fishing. It might make a big difference in their lives and give them a positive role model to pattern themselves after.

How much are you willing to invest in the future of our children and our sport? As I have said before, if you will teach a youngster to love and utilize the outdoors, chances are you won’t have to worry about him or her getting into serious trouble. If not you, who?

Until next time, enjoy the Texas outdoors.