It’s that time of year when serious hunters are winding up preparations for another season. I’ve been making a few scouting forays into the local mountains. On my last scout I thought back to last season and a trip I made with a good friend and his 17-year old son. As we were heading home, the boy’s cell phone rang, and one of his buddies asked him where he had been. “I’ve been out camping with dad,” he said. Not hunting, camping. When his dad gave him a questioning look, the boy simply shrugged his shoulders and said, “It’s just better that way.”
All across America, hunting participation as a percentage of the overall population is declining. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the total number of “sportsmen” — men and women who hunt or fish — is 38 million today, nearly one in five Americans, of which 13 million hunt. Over the past two decades, the percentage of Americans who hunt or fish has tumbled from 26 to 18 percent; the absolute number of sportsmen has fallen from 50 million to 38 million.
As hunters become fewer in relation to the overall population, the public policy question becomes, who will pay the costs of preserving habitat and managing fish and wildlife in the future? Hunters and fishermen now pay the vast majority of the tab, not just through the steep license, tag and access fees they pay, but also by intangible things like the countless hours of volunteer labor they donate to habitat enhancement projects.
Fewer hunters means an incalculable cost of having fewer people in America who are intimate with the outdoors, who understand the beauty of a quiet sunrise, the majesty of a bugling bull elk, the thrill of seeing a mature whitetail buck emerge from the woods on a frosty November morning, people who have put their own meat in the freezer and thus understand that it doesn’t come neatly wrapped from the grocery store. If the numbers of hunters and anglers keep dropping, if fewer and fewer young people head to the woods each fall to hunt, who’s going to carry on the fight for fish and wildlife, for protecting open space, for making sure the environment remains clean and pure?
Of course America is changing. More and more of us now live in cities. Most of the rising tide of immigrants don’t arrive with hunting or fishing traditions. But I believe we must do everything we can to cling to our hunting and fishing traditions. We desperately need people to pass on to their children their knowledge and love for the outdoors.
That burden is falling on the shoulders of all of us who do love to hunt. Are you willing to step up and help meet the challenge?
Entry Filed under: Hunting
22 Comments Add your own
1. Mark Raymond | July 29th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Seems we have some work to do with our youth and hunting.
2. Greg Kline | August 2nd, 2009 at 10:15 am
It’s a shame that the non-hunters of today have a stronger voice and refuse to consider hunting, much less accept as a legimate activity.
3. jason | September 11th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
we need to take you kids hunting and instill hunting as a harvet to keep the natural world healthy to walk the mountain strams and to feel waht its like to bag a big moose elk or bear and have no cost hunting licences to youth hunters.
4. John Moore | October 20th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Dear Sirs:
I have trophy cams. I’m wondering what happens when the number of pictures fills up the sd card. Does it just stop taking pictures or does it start over in the sd memory card.
John
5. Bushnell | October 21st, 2009 at 10:06 am
John,
The Trophy Camera will stop taking pictures once the card is full. It will not delete any of the pictures that have already been taken.
6. Robert Bromilow | October 22nd, 2009 at 10:53 am
I bought a new Trophy Camera Brown Model119405.Why doesn’t it recognise my new formatted Kodak 2GB SD card?My Sandisk 256MB SD card works fine!
7. Bushnell | October 22nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
Robert,
The Trophy Camera only works with certain brands of SD cards, SanDisk being one of the recommended brands. We realize this is an inconvenience and are terribly sorry for your troubles.
8. Terre | October 23rd, 2009 at 11:46 am
The Trophy Cam looks like a great little camera and I am looking to purchase one. I’ve owned other brands of IR trail cams that have over exposed white outs at dusk and dawn due to the IR having problems determining whether it was day or night. I was told this is a problem with all IR cameras. Will I have this problem with the Trophy Camera or should I stick with a flash camera.
Also what type of security features does the Trophy Cam offer for locking to trees?
9. harold | October 25th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
i recently purchased a t/c omega z5 workhorse.and a bushnell doa 250 scope. t/c recomends not using powerbelt bullets and that is all thats on the balistics chart with the scope . how much difference in powerbelt-t/c shokwave sabots ?
10. Ian Perryman | October 26th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Hello, I recently purchased a 4200 Elite 4-16×40 Side focus, which is a great scope but does not have a sunshade with it. I have contacted your customer service dept. and Bushnell UK (were I live) and neither have replied to me! Come on guys-not very good when you pride yourselfs on your customer care. Please can you let me know how I can get my hands on one.
11. Robert Bromilow | October 28th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Thank You for the reply, it is very helpful. Have a great day!
12. Bushnell Service | November 4th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Lanie, please mail unit to our repair facility where a Technician will evaluate.
Thanks,
INSTRUCTIONS TO SEND PRODUCT IN FOR REPAIR
*NOTICE: Due to US import and export laws, repairs originating outside of the US cannot be returned. Please contact the nearest subsidiary office that services your area for shipping information.
Package your product securely and include your name, street address, a daytime phone number, your email address, and a brief description of the issues you want addressed. Insure your product for the appropriate dollar value and send it to:
Bushnell (US Residents Only)
Attn: Repairs
8500 Marshall Drive
Lenexa, KS 66214
(For Non USA Residents, please contact our Customer Service Dept. at 1-800-423-3537)
When returning product for repair, please do not send the product cases, lens caps, mounts, or straps.
SHIPPING & HANDLING FEES
Send in a check or money order for shipping and handling made out to Bushnell in the amount of: $10.00
(California residents are excluded from paying shipping and handling payments for warranted items only)
13. Elmer | November 12th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
will bushnell sportsman scope work on a fully rifled shot gun barrell
14. John Di Veglio | November 30th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
I hunt with a rifle that was handed down from my Dad to me.It’s an 8mm Mauser (sporterized) with what I believe is a Bushnell scope mounted on it. The rifle and scope are as accurate as can be (1″ group at 100 yds.) Unfortunately, I don’t know the model of the scope, but the markings are as follows: Waterproof, 4×40, 73-0440, Korea, B00001. This past weekend, my son was using the rifle (3rd generation) for deer hunting. It received a minor bump when it slid from a leaning position against a tree. Much to my son’s surprise, the cross-hairs had rotated 45 degrees. He test fired at a 100 yd. target and the scope was dead on. But, we can’t figure how to get the cross-hairs back to the original position since the only adjustments are Elevation, Windage (both having Bushnell caps) and a focus ring at the eyepiece. I’d appreciate any guidance you could provide. Sincere thanks.
15. Bushnell Service | December 1st, 2009 at 9:29 am
John,
Hello, this would need an inspection by our service center. You are more than welcome to mail it to us for evaluation. Since not all problems are serviceable I would leave a detailed note about the scope. It sounds like there is sentimental value in the scope and it may be something you wish to keep even if it cannot be repaired. Below are the instructions for mailing an item to our service center.
Thank You,
INSTRUCTIONS TO SEND PRODUCT IN FOR REPAIR
*NOTICE: Due to US import and export laws, repairs originating outside of the US cannot be returned.
Please contact the nearest subsidiary office that services your area for shipping information.
Package your product securely and include your name, street address, a daytime phone number, your email address, and a brief description of the issues you want addressed. Insure your product for the appropriate dollar value and send it to:
Bushnell (US Residents Only)
Attn: Repairs
8500 Marshall Drive
Lenexa, KS 66214
(For Non USA Residents, please contact our Customer Service Dept. at 1-800-423-3537)
When returning product for repair, please do not send the product cases, lens caps, mounts, or straps.
——————————————————————-
SHIPPING & HANDLING FEES
Send in a check or money order for shipping and handling made out to Bushnell in the amount of:
$15.00 for Telescopes
$10.00 for all other products
(California residents are excluded from paying shipping and handling payments for warranted items only)
————————————————————————
——–
REPAIR PROCESS
When your unit is received it will be assigned a repair number. After reading your letter, a technician will evaluate your unit to determine what repairs are needed and whether or not warranty coverage will be applicable. It is our option to repair or replace your unit. If your unit is NOT covered under warranty, an estimate for repair or replacement will be mailed to you.
You will have 20 days to respond, either accepting or declining the recommendation. If you accept the recommendation for repair or replacement you will need to provide payment. That can be in the form of a check, money order, or if you prefer, by MasterCard or VISA. If the repair or replacement is covered under warranty, you will receive no additional correspondence. Your repaired unit or a comparable replacement of equal value and function will be shipped to you via UPS
within 4-6 weeks.
16. kwehage@sasktel.net | December 27th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I have owned a 3200elite 5×15x40 for three years now the scope will not hold its sight in for more than one or two trips in the field. I have sent it back three times for repair it takes six months to get it back from repair.I am ready to throw it in the garbage Save your self some grief and think about another brand
17. S.Carl | January 26th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
I have recently purchased a Legend 5-15×40 rifle scope with mil-dot reticle. I have searched your (Bushnell) on line resources and could not find mil-dot info on this scope as is listed for the elite series of scopes. Also this scope does not have a highlighted magnification number as others do to set magnification power for mil-dot usage.
Can anyone send me this information or let me know where I can get it?
18. LARRY | March 5th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
i JUST RECIEVED A REPLACEMENT FOR THE TROPHY CAM THAT i SENT IN FOR REPAIR, IS THERE A WARRANTY ON THE REPLACEMENT CAMERA? i THINK THIS IS THE BEST CAM ON THE MARKET. THANKS
19. Kent Kebe | April 28th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
I just purchased the Bushnell legend 1200 Arc
In the directions for set up, there is a list of popular caliber and load combinations on bushnell.com. Can you please tell me where I can find this extensive list on bushnell.com so I can finish setting up my new range finder for my different rifle combinations.
Thank you.
kent,
20. Robert Augeri | May 20th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Sir,
I called 800-423-3537 and I was told that I could not purchase you GPS on your web site. I don’t understand why do I was given a password to log onto your site if I can not buy.
21. Darryl | May 22nd, 2010 at 8:24 am
I have a Bushnell Scout 1000 ARC, laser range finder and i really like it, but I found out after I bought it that the holdover data or drop for the ballistic settings group assumes your rifle is zero at a 100yds. Does any one know if this can be set to whatever you want your zero to be? I prefer to have my zero set at 200yds, as I will be taking 300 to 400 yd shots.
22. Bernard | July 19th, 2010 at 4:32 am
i have a bushnell trail sentry model 11-9202 i tried to enter de passowrd 0000 it always sait error imposible to start de menu how can i reset the password to be 0000 again ?? it is brand new serial # is 92021355
thank you for the help !!
Bernard
chevroeil_@hotmail.com
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