Sunday, September 21, 2008
I can taste it in the air, the life-giving power that it is.
It's the power of nature, the power to heal man and itself.
During this explosive phenomenon, the natural fall season of harvest, we in the Nugent family are moved deep in our souls to celebrate Thanksgiving every step of the way.
Hallelujah and pass the sacred backstraps, baby.
'Tis the hunting season, and I am in with all I've got. Next Saturday I'll celebrate it with many on National Hunting and Fishing Day, declared 36 years ago by Richard Nixon.
Like trapping, hunting and fishing are integral to America culture, teamed as they are with our essential conservation responsibility.
Once necessary to survive, hunting and fishing now are two very popular forms of recreation, while keeping millions of American families connected to the land and its precious creatures.
Today roughly 20 million hunters and more than 50 million fishermen enjoy the outdoors and generate roughly $70 billion in revenue each year.
Perfection
Like all my friends, we Nugents hunt simply because we are hunters. It is perfect.
Thanks to hunters' dollars generated through licensing fees, habitat
stamp fees and direct involvement, America's wildlife and overall
conservation programs have never been more vibrant, healthy and strong. Our wildlife management system is envied around the world by all real conservationists.
The dollars hunters provide for state wildlife coffers provide
roughly 75 percent of all funds for state wildlife agencies. Considering that we hunters constitute only 12 percent of the population, we carry the vast majority of the financial
burden to ensure that America's wildlife, and its air, soil and water-cleansing habitat, is healthy and thriving.
How about a big, hearty and genuine thank you, America?
In addition to preserving and replenishing game animals, hunters' dollars provide habitat and research benefiting non-game species.
Wildlife photographers, artists, hikers, campers, bike riders, bird watchers and all outdoor enthusiasts ride on the financial coat tails of American hunters and fishermen.
The result? More turkey, geese, elk, black bear, cougars and whitetail deer than at any time in our nation's history. This phenomenal success story, intentionally ignored by the dominant media, is because hunters and fishermen care deeply and remain spiritually connected to our resource stewardship duties.
Down to a science
The sustain-yield science that we demand keeps wildlife and wild ground in the asset column.
American hunting and fishing families spend hundreds of millions of accident-free hours in the great outdoors. Hunting is one of the safest recreational activities in the world. And of course wild game meat is the healthiest food in the world.
Did I mention "perfect"?
Whitetail deer are everywhere. In fact, in most parts of the country, there are way too many of them. While many state wildlife departments have begun to correct this problem by increasing opportunities and by providing hunters more tags to kill does, we must do more.
Hunting seasons should be expanded. Other common-sense hunting opportunities must be implemented immediately based solely on science, never allowing selfish emotion to turn an asset into a liability as they have done with cougars in California and bears in New Jersey.
Can you believe that in 11 states and some Canadian provinces, Sunday hunting is illegal? These laws must be fought.
America's outdoorsmen and private landowners have created the most successful wildlife management system the world has ever known.
Happy hunting season, America. Good hunting and good luck. Celebrate the mighty Spirit of the Wild.
Ted Nugent is a Waco-based musician and television show host. Contact him directly at tednugent.com.
