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RALEIGH, N.C. (October 18, 2010) – There is still time to pledge to mentor someone new to hunting during the 2010 hunting season.
Sign-ups for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Hunting Matters! “Hats On” Mentoring Campaign end Nov. 1. Those who sign up by the Nov. 1 deadline will receive a free hat and bumper sticker.
“We’re asking hunters to join the more than 3,000 people who have already promised to introduce someone new to hunting, a unique opportunity to connect with the natural world we live in that can not be found elsewhere,” said Walter “Deet” James, the Commission’s Hunting Heritage biologist. “If you enjoy hunting, consider sharing the experience with someone who is interested in the outdoors and otherwise may not have the opportunity to learn about the activity.”
The Commission’s Hunting Heritage Program is based on the premise that it takes a hunter to make a hunter and that the recruitment and retention of hunters is critical for long-term conservation and management of North Carolina’s wildlife resources.
And, with studies showing that most hunters are introduced to the activity by another hunter, wildlife officials hope to encourage experienced outdoorsmen to introduce the activity to their children, friends, relatives and peers.
Nearly 98 percent of hunters were introduced to the activity by mentors, such as fathers, grandfathers or mothers, according to a 2008 study from Responsive Management. Only 2 percent began hunting on their own.