As conservationists, hunters need to speak up Delhi News-Record – Ontario, CA

Posted By Jeff Helsdon / Sun Media

In the coming days, and weeks, hunters will be dusting off their hunting clothes, oiling guns and preparing decoys for the first hunt of the year.

Waterfowl hunters will be first to head outdoors this weekend, but the pursuit of deer and moose will follow only a few weeks later. Most hunters are passionate about their time spent in duck blinds, deer stands or a week away in northern Ontario moose or deer hunting. Although they spend hours preparing for the hunt and are enthusiastic about their hunting time, most hunters give little thought to defending hunting.

Defending hunting is usually left to the many fine organizations that represent hunters in Canada. After all, isn’t the voice of thousands better than a single outcry

Not necessarily so, says Delta Waterfowl Foundation. Known as a research organization for decades, Delta has more recently moved into broader-based conservation initiatives, as well as organizing youth hunts and hunter advocacy.

On the latter topic, Delta senior staff members Dr. Bob Bailey and Bob Sopuck presented a hunting communication seminar at the Long Point Waterfowl Centre (former Ontario Ranger Camp), just north of Turkey Point, recently.

Their seminar covered a variety of topics ranging from how anti-hunting organizations work to proven messages for defending hunting in your backyard. Sound like kind of heady stuff, and still something better left to organizations like Delta?

Not so.

We, as hunters, shouldn’t be so quick to think that bigger is better. Referring to several regional and national surveys, Bailey said the public’s impression of hunting is more apt to be positive if people know a hunter.

“Individual hunters are the most credible public spokespeople for hunting – that’s you and I,” he said  Full Story

Delhi News-Record – Ontario, CA.