Sorry Randy, you’ve lost me.
So the goal is to gain advocates? I’ll gladly shut up if it can be shown that this recent increase in western hunter numbers has also resulted in a resultant and proportionate increase in members of (or dollars donated to) conservation and other hunter advocacy groups. Yet something tells me that isn’t happening. I’d love to be wrong here.
You've made it clear on multiple occasions that "I've lost you." No problem with that. I appreciate it that you are willing to state so and your honesty about the fact.
Yeah, the goal is more advocates. How would you want it measured; dollars toward conservation, membership in conservation groups, people showing up for public meetings, folks calling their legislators, hours volunteered toward projects, acres of habitat improved, new access created, other?
And if one did define the measurement criteria, how could any one person take credit for what increase in advocates could be measured when there are so many aspects that go into creating advocates, members, dollars toward conservation, etc.? I know I surely wouldn't take credit for it.
Whatever threshold someone uses to determine if advocacy is increasing, is as varied as hunters themselves. And whatever threshold someone uses is not traceable to any single person or any single effort.
I do think more people are getting involved in conservation. It is increasing, at least in the areas and groups I am familiar with. I see it in the many places I go, the places I volunteer, the organizations I am a member of, and the people I talk to. I see it in projects funded, acres conserved, new access created, populations transplanted, people volunteering for water projects and fence pulls, the fact that no western politician is still pushing the idea of disposing public lands, the fact that thousands of Montanans commented to their wildlife Commissioners to get recent proposals changed (albeit to something almost as bad). I see it in a lot of places where it wasn't happening before.
I hope people continue to engage in advocacy and conservation, whether they are new hunters, or folks who have grown up hunting. The urgency of conservation has never been more evident in my lifetime. Some of the most critical remaining landscapes that have previously escaped the plow and shovel are now in the crosshairs. I'll keep doing what small part I can toward that effort with my time, my money, and our platforms. I accept that some aren't going to like it. Comes with the territory.
I wish you luck in 2022.