OBS Challenge: Why the Outdoors is for Everyone

Outdoor Bloggers Summit Chairperson Kristine Shreve recently issued a challenge for OBS members to write about our thoughts on why no one should be excluded from hunting and the various other outdoor pursuits we blog about.  The challenge came about in response to a controversial article that I'm not going to even bother discussing, but if you want to be offended click here.

The Non-Traditional Faces of the Outdoors challenge has been a tough one for me.  The answers to the question of why the outdoors is for everyone may at first seem pretty obvious:

• Hunting needs more participation by more kinds of people if it is to survive as a sport;

• Groups of people that were once excluded from other sports have gone on to make some of the greatest contributions to those sports;

• The number of female hunting bloggers is clear evidence that ladies like hunting too;

• We live in a free country; and

• If you can get your wife to try hunting, maybe she'll be a little more understanding of why you'd rather hunt than paint the kitchen.

Which brings me to why this challenge required a bit more thought for me than some of the others have.  My wife doesn't hunt.  She doesn't fish.  She goes camping with me about once every 10 years and even then only in a heavily-controlled environment.  She won't even eat my venison.

My kids are into hunting, but all three of them are boys, so I don't have a daughter to introduce to the outdoors.  I've also never had the opportunity to hunt with a black guy, a disabled person, an immigrant or anyone else that might fit into the "non-traditional faces of the outdoors" category.  But I'd love to introduce someone, anyone who might not otherwise get an opportunity, to my beloved outdoor pass times.

So in response to Kristine's challenge, I'm going to issue a few challenges of my own:

First of all, I challenge my wife to sit in a tree stand with me at sunrise.  She doesn't have to kill anything or even carry a weapon.  In fact, I won't plan on shooting either, and we can even do it in the summer if she wants.  I think if she could just once experience the magic of a deer emerging from the shadows, she would have a much better idea of where I'm coming from.

Second, I challenge my sister to allow and encourage her oldest daughter to participate in at least one Bright Idea Outdoors sponsored event this year.  I'm not saying she's got to let me take the little girl hunting.  Perhaps a fishing trip would be more her speed.  And I bet she'd enjoy plinking some cans off the roof of the Lodge with the Red Ryder.

Third, I challenge anyone who has never had a chance to hunt to ask me about how I got into it and discuss what we can do to get you into it.  If you're willing to put in the work and take a hunter safety course, I'll find a way to get you on some game next fall.

Finally, I challenge myself to this year introduce at least one person from the "non-traditional" category to hunting.  I'll let you know how that goes.

Comments

[Kristine Shreve]

I think those are all great ideas Matt. Sometimes it's just about being open to trying something new. I hope those you challenged take you up on your offers.

[DeerPassion]

Wonderful post, Matt! I wish all men were as open as you are to introducting others to the sport.

[Arthur]

I like the way you went with this post. I think challenging ourselves to do things such as this is definitely a great idea.

I hope you can meet all of your challenges.

[jec]

A camera would be a good "weapon" to take on a hunt. And which traditionally "other" activity will you participate in? Maybe an art museum in some place that's "out of your jurisdiction." I'm just sayin'. . .

[Babar]

Your oldest niece would love to go fishing with you. She's gone with J. and caught more fish than anyone else! He'd probably like to go too.

But you know what they say about Red Ryders... "You'll shoot your eye out!!!" We'll leave it at that for now.

[Dennis A Carroll]

Good post. It's great to see so many views from the OBS Challenge. I actually think that a person can only really challenge themselves--just the way of the world. TTFN

[The Hunter's Wife]

Those are really good challenges and I hope your wife takes on your challenge. I would love to read about it.

:)

[Marian]

A very good post Matt - I took my camera on a Youth Hunt at Rex's Christmas Place Hunting Club and got a picture of a yearling suckling...how awesome is that! In reading your last post...I may introduce at least one person from the "non-traditional" category to hunting. A Bright Idea!:)

[Samson B]

Excellent post from a true Sportsman. I like the part where you talked about the "deer coming out of the shadows"...how true it is!
Good luck.