ADWA ACTION ALERT

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Our Future is Now

Our youth are the future of the industry. Without their involvement today, our industry could fade into obscurity within the next 20 to 30 years. Is that an outlandish statement? I don’t think so.

In 1975, 19.1 million Americans (16-years old or older) had hunted in their lifetime. In 2006, that number had plummeted to only 12.5 percent. That’s a steady decline of a quarter percent annually which, if continued, will result in another 5 percent loss in 20 years and a 7.5 percent loss in 30 years.

But I suggest that a more rapid decline is possible. The political clout and aggressive strategies of the animal rights activists, rampant urbanization, and the continued collapse of traditional families are immediate threats to our American outdoor traditions.

We’ve already lost an entire generation, perhaps two, and we must act. Our future is now, and we must promote wildlife management and conservation to our youth just as aggressively as — if not more than — the radical activists who are working to shut down the industry.

The ADWA is working with organizations, businesses and individuals to help turnaround this trend. In the next few weeks, we’ll host the ADWA Youth Safari Camp in Texas and the new ADWA Back Country Adventure Camp in Missouri. And, we’ll have more youth hunts and Safari Camps this fall.

We’re also still the title sponsor of Keith Warren’s Deer & Wildlife Stories program on the Pursuit Channel, and we’re regularly launching new initiatives — iHuntAmerica.com and OutdoorPatriot.com, for examples — to help drive awareness for the industry and increase participation.

Obviously, we have a LOT of work to do, and in some ways we are working against a tide of public indifference.

But this work begins with you, our members. With your continued support, we can create a better habitat for business, grow the industry and preserve our American outdoor traditions.

John Meng, President
American Deer & Wildlife Alliance