I missed all the hunting discussion yesterday - but wanted to share part of why I love it and why it's so important to land and wildlife conservation.

I'm toward the tail end of a big family, and am one of few siblings who love hunting. My Dad was raised in small ranching community and was a big hunter in his younger years. Luckily he was nice enough to take me out hunting even though he was getting older (he was 43 when I was born) as I was really getting into it as a teenager. I love the outdoors and spend a lot of time outside even if I'm not hunting. Time in the mountains, whether it's alone or with family, on foot or horseback, is one of my favorite things.

I hunt as much as I can now (money and time permitting) and always try to involve my kids. Winter is research time, Spring is application time (and Spring bear season), Summer is physical and gear prep, and Fall is always over too soon. We eat as much wild game as we can too - we eat a lot of elk and antelope because I hunt them the most. But my kids have had lots of deer, bison and bear too. Strangely, the first time I ever had bear was on my mission.

If you're a fan of wildlife and the outdoors, even if you're not a hunter, it's good to support hunting (including predator hunting). Through hunting, most north american species of game have increased in numbers and herd health thanks to what's called the North American Wildlife Conservation Model. Also, through voluntary taxation hunters help fund and support state and national wildlife biology and conservation (Pitman Robertson Act).

I understand there are challenges to hunting (access to land, lack of knowledge of firearms etc.), so if any on this board have questions or feel they need help I'm more than happy to provide whatever info I can. If you want to get (back) in to hunting, hit me up about hunting antelope in Wyoming. It's the cheapest and easiest big game hunt in the west.

This hunt is awesome - and it's the MeatEater, so there's always cooking/eating at the end. The harvest and cooking starts at 16:00.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqv1arVKWR0