by Editorial Staff
Locavores
NUMBERS
Let’s Welcome these New Hunters
2,707 yards or 1.54 miles
Chances are if you are reading this magazine that you are an omnivore, and you may even like to call yourself a carnivore. Slapping that ‘vore onto the end of words to label a style or philosophy of eating is common these days, and one of those ‘vores is finding shared values with the traditional feedingthe-family hunter. This group calls themselves locavores and they like their food local and as untraveled as possible. Many ideas are behind this movement. Some believe there are health benefits; others are looking to reduce their environmental impact. Regardless, a healthy locavore needs protein and the bulk of the United States will not provide adequate protein in any way other than animal protein. If a person does not want the beef, pork, or chicken at the grocery store that has been shipped across multiple state lines they are going to find themselves left with either needing a lot of land to raise their own, or turning to the deer and other animals roaming the great out-of-doors. These hunters are coming to the sport of hunting strictly from a food angle, and this trend is growing. A recent story in the Billings Gazette featured Hank Shaw, a reporter and author who took up hunting in his 30s. “There is a huge new movement of food-oriented hunters who are taking up the pursuit specifically for the food aspect,” Shaw said. “Fundamentally, they want to take possession of what they feed themselves and their families.” Shaw discusses this further in his book “Hunt, Gather, Cook: Finding the Forgotten Feast.” Some of these new hunters may have been vegetarians who have found that the philosophy of being a locavore makes more sense to them than avoiding meat altogether—while the economics and environmental impact of huge feedlots and other concerns may have driven them away, the same concerns over obtaining vegetable protein brings them back. Whatever the reasons, these new hunters are allies to be won. Their hunting dollars will go to conservation and the preservation of habitat. Their presence will add to the hunting population. And their positive experiences with hunting and the hunting traditions of generations will make them ambassadors to those that might wish to regulate hunting into ever-smaller boxes, or ban it altogether. The flip-side is that a negative experience or two with hunters in the field could send them running the other way. Regardless of the style of hunting you like to pursue, welcoming all those who hunt, sharing your knowledge with them, and respecting their own knowledge and approach can lead to more opportunities for all of us!
5Fresh Sign5
Longest confirmed kill by British sniper Craig Harrison. He shot two Afghan Taliban machine gunners consecutively at this range with a .339 La Pua Magnum in 2009
6.125”
The 6-target NBRSA 1000-yard Light Gun World Record, set by Richard Schatz in 2003
3.048”
The IBS Heavy Gun World Record set by Joel Pendergraft in 2009, in a 10shot group at 1,000 yards.
1.9557” The FCSA World
Record 5-shot group at 1,000 yards, set by Lee Rasmussen in 2009 shooting in the Heavy .50 BMG Class.
Summer 2013
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