ARTICLES
From Field to Fork
Do you have a desire to learn how to source your own protein?
Have you always wanted to learn more about hunting but weren’t sure who to ask?
Would you like to introduce others to the many benefits of hunting while also helping to ensure the future of hunting?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, or if you are just curious about the Field to Fork program, then we invite to you learn more about the program and how you can get involved! For more information on Field to Fork, or if you are interested in replicating or participating, email Hank Forester.
QDMA’s Field to Fork is a food-focused hunter recruitment program for adults from non-hunting backgrounds piloted in Athens, Georgia in 2016 by QDMA Hunting Heritage Programs Manager Hank Forester and Charles S. Evans, the Georgia R3 Coordinator with the Georgia Wildlife Federation. Hinging on a unique approach involving recruitment at a local farmer’s market, visitors were asked if they wanted to sample from a spread of venison sausage, grilled backstrap or venison jerky, and they were provided with a handout titled “Why Should You Hunt Deer?” They were then offered the chance to participate in a season-long mentored hunting program that would teach them how to hunt and acquire a wild, healthy, local, sustainable source of food on their own.
Learn more about Field to fork here:
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The All-American Pronghorn
By Bob Robb
We found the Antelope shy and watchful insofar as we were unable to get a shot at them. I got within about 200 paces of them when they smelt me and fled … The antelopes which had disappeared into a steep ravine now appeared at a distance of about three miles. So soon had these antelopes gained the distance that at first I doubted they were the same I had just surprised, but soon my doubts vanished when I beheld the rapidity of their flight along the ridge before me. It appeared rather the rapid flight of birds than the motion of quadrapeds.—Meriwether Lewis, September 17, 1804, from The Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
Pronghorn are the second-fastest land animal on earth. Only the cheetah is faster.[/caption]
But, first, a question: Why do people call them “antelope?” Even the Wyoming hunting regulation booklet refers to them as “pronghorn antelope.” Pronghorn, however, are not related to antelope, goats or sheep. They are, instead, the remaining member of an ancient animal family dating back 20 million years. They even are their own scientific genus—Antilocapra americana. They are also the second-fastest land mammal in the world—only the cheetah is faster—able to attain speeds of nearly 60 mph over short distances and able to hold half that speed for miles. They have adapted physically for this, with long limbs, lightweight bones, a small digestive tract that enables them to use less energy during locomotion, and large tracheae, lungs and heart for rapid intake of oxygen and increased rate and power of circulation. They have pointed double hooves with cartilaginous padding to cushion shock when running over hard ground and rocks, with the front hooves larger than the back ones as the front carry most of the weight while the animal is running.
[caption id="attachment_3560" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
Spot-and-stalk hunters need cover to make it work, one reason the author prefers to hunt pronghorn in broken terrain with lots of big cactus cover.[/caption]
Historically, pronghorn have ranged from southern Alberta and Saskatchewan south to northern Mexico and from the Mississippi River and Gulf Coast of Texas in the east to California and Oregon in the west. Today, the largest populations are found in Wyoming and Montana. They are found primarily in shrub lands, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, grassland and temperate desert (though deserts support less than one percent of the population) and are associated most frequently with treeless, flat terrain and short-grass prairies. They are also found in steppe-like terrain with vegetation ranging five to 30 inches in height. Animals have been found from near sea level to 11,000 feet elevation, but most live in elevations ranging between 3,000 and 8,000 feet.
Both sexes have horns, not antlers. Male horns range from 10 to 20 inches in length, though anything measuring over 16 inches is considered exceptional. Female horns rarely exceed four inches. The horns are fully developed by three years of age, are coal black and are composed of a bony permanent interior knob covered by a keratinous sheath, which is shed annually like antlers. The typical horn is lyre shaped, curving back and slightly inward near conical tips, each with one broad, short prong that juts forward and slightly upward approximately halfway from the base.
[caption id="attachment_3562" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
Pronghorn have unbelievable eyesight. To locate and evaluate them, it’s best to do it from afar using a top-notch binocular and spotting scope while remaining out of sight.[/caption]
Pronghorn rely primarily on their keen sense of sight for defense. They have large protruding eyes that appear to be located on the side of the head but are oriented forward enough to allow limited binocular vision. They have the largest eyes of any North American ungulate in relation to body size; each eyeball is about 1.5 inches in diameter. They have nearly a 300-degree arc of vision without moving head or eyes and can easily detect movement up to four miles away.
The key to a successful pronghorn stalk is staying out of sight, using terrain features to hide you.[/caption]
One thing all pronghorn hunters quickly learn is that you have to both stay out of sight and watch the wind to be successful. There’s generally a lot of belly-crawling and hunched-over walking involved. In addition to their amazing eyesight, pronghorn also have an excellent sense of smell. If they get a whiff of you, it’s adios amigos.
The standard tactic is to access a high vantage point overlooking a massive amount of territory, employ high-quality optics and glass until a buck is located. A stalk is then planned, taking into account the need to stay out of sight and the wind direction. This cannot be overemphasized. I’ve seen pronghorn on heavily-hunted public lands spook at the sight of a pickup truck topping a rise at a distance of two miles. For that reason, it’s best to get out of the vehicle and hike to the top of a hill or ridge, belly-crawling the last few yards, then slowly peeking over the top. I often put a large piece of sagebrush in front of me as I belly to the top if the rise to further hide my face. Wearing a camouflage facemask will also help hide the glare from your face.
[caption id="attachment_3559" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
A spotting scope is extremely valuable for evaluating animals at long range.[/caption]
Though tenacious, pronghorn are relatively small and, thus, when selecting a cartridge, hunters don’t need a hand cannon. Any relatively flat-shooting cartridge from the .243 Win. up through any of the .300 magnums will suffice, as long as your rifle/ammunition combination is an accurate one. Variable riflescopes in the 2.5–10X and 4–14X magnification class are perfect. Binoculars in the 10x42 class are excellent, and a spotting scope that can be mounted on both a tripod and a truck window is extremely helpful.
[caption id="attachment_3561" align="aligncenter" width="650"]
Many pronghorn hunters find a bipod valuable to help get their rifle’s muzzle above the sagebrush when shooting from the prone position, which is common.[/caption]
Shooting sticks will be helpful when shooting from the sitting position. Many pronghorn hunters find a bipod valuable to help get their muzzle above the sagebrush when shooting from the prone position, which is common. A puffed-up daypack can help with this as well.
The biggest bucks are found in Arizona –where tags are extremely hard to draw—and New Mexico. Robb took this 16½-incher in New Mexico.[/caption]
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It's Not Really an Antelope
I’ve been pursuing pronghorn since the 1970s and doing so is truly one of the hunting trips I love most. Seasons are long, stretching from late summer past Halloween, depending on the state and weapon, and pronghorn are one of North America’s most fascinating big-game animals. [caption id="attachment_3565" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Pronghorn are the second-fastest land animal on earth. Only the cheetah is faster.[/caption]
But, first, a question: Why do people call them “antelope?” Even the Wyoming hunting regulation booklet refers to them as “pronghorn antelope.” Pronghorn, however, are not related to antelope, goats or sheep. They are, instead, the remaining member of an ancient animal family dating back 20 million years. They even are their own scientific genus—Antilocapra americana. They are also the second-fastest land mammal in the world—only the cheetah is faster—able to attain speeds of nearly 60 mph over short distances and able to hold half that speed for miles. They have adapted physically for this, with long limbs, lightweight bones, a small digestive tract that enables them to use less energy during locomotion, and large tracheae, lungs and heart for rapid intake of oxygen and increased rate and power of circulation. They have pointed double hooves with cartilaginous padding to cushion shock when running over hard ground and rocks, with the front hooves larger than the back ones as the front carry most of the weight while the animal is running.
[caption id="attachment_3560" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Spot-and-stalk hunters need cover to make it work, one reason the author prefers to hunt pronghorn in broken terrain with lots of big cactus cover.[/caption]
Historically, pronghorn have ranged from southern Alberta and Saskatchewan south to northern Mexico and from the Mississippi River and Gulf Coast of Texas in the east to California and Oregon in the west. Today, the largest populations are found in Wyoming and Montana. They are found primarily in shrub lands, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, grassland and temperate desert (though deserts support less than one percent of the population) and are associated most frequently with treeless, flat terrain and short-grass prairies. They are also found in steppe-like terrain with vegetation ranging five to 30 inches in height. Animals have been found from near sea level to 11,000 feet elevation, but most live in elevations ranging between 3,000 and 8,000 feet.
Both sexes have horns, not antlers. Male horns range from 10 to 20 inches in length, though anything measuring over 16 inches is considered exceptional. Female horns rarely exceed four inches. The horns are fully developed by three years of age, are coal black and are composed of a bony permanent interior knob covered by a keratinous sheath, which is shed annually like antlers. The typical horn is lyre shaped, curving back and slightly inward near conical tips, each with one broad, short prong that juts forward and slightly upward approximately halfway from the base.
[caption id="attachment_3562" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Pronghorn have unbelievable eyesight. To locate and evaluate them, it’s best to do it from afar using a top-notch binocular and spotting scope while remaining out of sight.[/caption]
Pronghorn rely primarily on their keen sense of sight for defense. They have large protruding eyes that appear to be located on the side of the head but are oriented forward enough to allow limited binocular vision. They have the largest eyes of any North American ungulate in relation to body size; each eyeball is about 1.5 inches in diameter. They have nearly a 300-degree arc of vision without moving head or eyes and can easily detect movement up to four miles away.
Watch the Wind, Stay Out of Sight
It is that amazing vision that makes stalking within range of pronghorn so difficult. When not hunting from a blind (or using a decoy during the rut), pronghorn hunting is pretty much a spot-and-stalk game. [caption id="attachment_3557" align="aligncenter" width="650"] The key to a successful pronghorn stalk is staying out of sight, using terrain features to hide you.[/caption]
One thing all pronghorn hunters quickly learn is that you have to both stay out of sight and watch the wind to be successful. There’s generally a lot of belly-crawling and hunched-over walking involved. In addition to their amazing eyesight, pronghorn also have an excellent sense of smell. If they get a whiff of you, it’s adios amigos.
The standard tactic is to access a high vantage point overlooking a massive amount of territory, employ high-quality optics and glass until a buck is located. A stalk is then planned, taking into account the need to stay out of sight and the wind direction. This cannot be overemphasized. I’ve seen pronghorn on heavily-hunted public lands spook at the sight of a pickup truck topping a rise at a distance of two miles. For that reason, it’s best to get out of the vehicle and hike to the top of a hill or ridge, belly-crawling the last few yards, then slowly peeking over the top. I often put a large piece of sagebrush in front of me as I belly to the top if the rise to further hide my face. Wearing a camouflage facemask will also help hide the glare from your face.
[caption id="attachment_3559" align="aligncenter" width="650"] A spotting scope is extremely valuable for evaluating animals at long range.[/caption]
Though tenacious, pronghorn are relatively small and, thus, when selecting a cartridge, hunters don’t need a hand cannon. Any relatively flat-shooting cartridge from the .243 Win. up through any of the .300 magnums will suffice, as long as your rifle/ammunition combination is an accurate one. Variable riflescopes in the 2.5–10X and 4–14X magnification class are perfect. Binoculars in the 10x42 class are excellent, and a spotting scope that can be mounted on both a tripod and a truck window is extremely helpful.
[caption id="attachment_3561" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Many pronghorn hunters find a bipod valuable to help get their rifle’s muzzle above the sagebrush when shooting from the prone position, which is common.[/caption]
Shooting sticks will be helpful when shooting from the sitting position. Many pronghorn hunters find a bipod valuable to help get their muzzle above the sagebrush when shooting from the prone position, which is common. A puffed-up daypack can help with this as well.
Where Are the Biggest Bucks?
If you’re looking for a really big buck, you’re probably wondering where you can find them. Generally speaking, your best chance at a true monster pronghorn will come from states with a very limited number of permits available through the tag draw. Expect that it will likely take a decade or more to draw (if you ever do), so patience is needed. Alternate tag acquisition routes include tag auctions or landowner tags, available in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and New Mexico. States with the highest pronghorn populations, Wyoming and Montana, also annually produce record-class bucks, but far fewer per capita. A good way to get a handle on where monster animals come from is to research the Safari Club Online Record Book. The current edition shows that Arizona and New Mexico dominate, with Arizona producing 23 and New Mexico 21 of the current top 50. [caption id="attachment_3563" align="aligncenter" width="650"] The biggest bucks are found in Arizona –where tags are extremely hard to draw—and New Mexico. Robb took this 16½-incher in New Mexico.[/caption]Dogs Provide the Ultimate Intro to Hunting for New Hunters
By Scott Linden
New hunters are the future of conservation, and many of you are embracing the concept of finding and helping them. Keep up the good work! But you also love watching your dog. It’s why you go hunting. Bird dogs work hard, are beautiful to watch, and boy, the adrenaline rush when the bird gets up!
You May also be interested in:
https://www.letsgohunting.org/articles/5-things-to-look-for-in-a-hunting-dog/
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https://youtu.be/bwl3XNJZ-tc
If you’re a bird hunter, you probably will never forget that first point or flush. Odds are, it’s what made you into a hunter. But did you ever think of your dog as a way to recruit new hunters? Inviting a friend to help you train your dog is a fun, convenient, safe way to introduce the magic of dogs — and hunting — to a newcomer. Watch the video to find out how and why — and while you’re at it, take the +ONE Pledge today and introduce someone new to hunting.
You May also be interested in:
https://www.letsgohunting.org/articles/5-things-to-look-for-in-a-hunting-dog/+ONE Gains Traction with Industry Conservation Partners
By Josh Honeycutt
It’s no secret, our hunting heritage is in trouble. According to the National Survey of Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, for most of the past decade, hunter numbers have declined significantly. Fortunately, there are many organizations working to help reverse this detrimental trend—and who have taken the message of NSSF’s +ONESM Movement mentoring initiative to heart.
The NSSF®, the trade association for the firearm industry, launched the +ONE Movement in 2019. Designed to encourage seasoned, experienced target shooters and hunters to extend an invitation to someone new—especially those people who have never handled a firearm, gone hunting and, most importantly, don’t come from families or communities where these pastimes are handed down from one generation to another. NSSF research has shown that there are millions—really, millions—of people who want to learn about firearms, target shooting and hunting but don’t know where to turn to start that journey. The +ONE Movement works to make that connection.
The +ONE message resonated with those in conservation and anxious to invigorate their R3 (recruitment, retention and reactivation) efforts. Here are the stories of just a few of those organizations and how they’re finding new R3 success.
Travis Sumner helps a new hunter during an NWTF dove hunt.[/caption]
NWTF also partners with the U.S. Forest Service, South Carolina Forestry Commission, American Forest Management and other groups to conduct hunts. Last year, NWTF helped conduct 17 hunts reaching hundreds of participants, while the Winchester museum hosted thousands of guests and the Palmetto Shooting Complex entertained tens of thousands of shooters. NWTF also touts an established landowner program with 18 private properties used to conduct R3 hunts and events.
“For those of us who are seasoned hunters, we need to be aware that what we have enjoyed for years is in danger,” said Sumner. “We all need to get involved, and we offer opportunities for hunters to become mentors, including a yearly mentor workshop for those individuals who would like to help with these hunt programs.”
Volunteers help run one of the M.U.L.E.Y. trailers.[/caption]
According to Hinton, the M.U.L.E.Y. program trailers serve an average of 20,000 youth per year. With these, coordinators and volunteers emphasize safe handling of bows and guns. Youth received reinforced lessons by practicing on an actual range. They also learn the basics of ethical, responsible hunting, with a focus on conservation. MDF encourages potential mentors to work with local chapters.
A look at the RMEF facility helping to create new hunters.[/caption]
RMEF also partners with other organizations and facilities and contributes about $1.3 million per year to promote the shooting sports, hunter education, hunter advocacy and outreach, mentored hunts, outdoor skills instruction and natural resource education in sponsoring approximately 400 Hunting Heritage and Conservation Outreach programs per year. This program reaches more than 220,000 people annually at facilities across the country.
“Connect with a local RMEF chapter to learn more about what they have going on and opportunities to help out with a volunteer project,” Rich says. “Ensuring the future of our hunting heritage is a crucial part of RMEF’s work.”
More than 200 students from 54 chapters attended the 2019 Third Term summit.[/caption]
Part of this program includes Third Term, a college leadership summit that focuses on collegiate DU chapters. Gathering students from across the country, Third Term was started in 1984. “We use our headquarters to bring in hundreds of students from across the country,” says Mark Horobetz, DU Manager of Youth and Education Programs. “This symposium includes an R3 breakout. It’s a social event, but they bring in all walks of life — people who’ve hunted and people who haven’t.”
These breakouts share insight on ways attendees can reach potential hunters, how to approach them, and methods for retaining them one recruited.
“These students collaborate together to introduce new hunters to the outdoors,” Horobetz says. “ We have volunteers who come and help.” Once back at their respective colleges, these young adults work to share hunting with other students on campus.
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National Wild Turkey Federation
Located in Edgefield, South Carolina, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Hunting Heritage Center is over 700 acres of R3 activity, with its Outdoor Education Center’s premier forestry and wildlife habitat used for deer, turkey and small game mentored hunts, as well as learn-to-hunt programs. The Palmetto Shooting Complex is also used to help create hunters via its sporting clays, trap, skeet and 3D archery courses. “The Palmetto Shooting Complex is an outlet to reach those who are shooting enthusiasts but who may not hunt,” said Travis Sumner, NWTF’s Hunting Heritage Center and habitat manager. “Our Winchester Museum is also used as an outlet. Through our tours there, we are able to reach those who are interested in hunting.” [caption id="attachment_3531" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Travis Sumner helps a new hunter during an NWTF dove hunt.[/caption]
NWTF also partners with the U.S. Forest Service, South Carolina Forestry Commission, American Forest Management and other groups to conduct hunts. Last year, NWTF helped conduct 17 hunts reaching hundreds of participants, while the Winchester museum hosted thousands of guests and the Palmetto Shooting Complex entertained tens of thousands of shooters. NWTF also touts an established landowner program with 18 private properties used to conduct R3 hunts and events.
“For those of us who are seasoned hunters, we need to be aware that what we have enjoyed for years is in danger,” said Sumner. “We all need to get involved, and we offer opportunities for hunters to become mentors, including a yearly mentor workshop for those individuals who would like to help with these hunt programs.”
Mule Deer Foundation
Like other non-profits, the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) runs a series of R3 programs, but it really shines with the M.U.L.E.Y. (Mindful, Understanding, Legal, Ethical, Youth) Program. “The program was created to help reverse declining hunter trends by actively engaging youth in a variety of hunting and shooting sports activities, while also teaching conservation principles, safety and ethics through mentored, hands-on experiences,” says Jared Hinton, MDF’s Outreach Coordinator and Conservation Partner Liaison. [caption id="attachment_3533" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Volunteers help run one of the M.U.L.E.Y. trailers.[/caption]
According to Hinton, the M.U.L.E.Y. program trailers serve an average of 20,000 youth per year. With these, coordinators and volunteers emphasize safe handling of bows and guns. Youth received reinforced lessons by practicing on an actual range. They also learn the basics of ethical, responsible hunting, with a focus on conservation. MDF encourages potential mentors to work with local chapters.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Located in Missoula, Montana, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) uses its Visitor Center and museum next to the administrative office building as an opportunity to educate both existing and new hunters. “Our Elk Country Visitor Center receives over 44,000 visitors per year,” says RMEF Hunting Heritage Program Manager Bruce Rich. “Nearly 5,000 of those are in hosted monthly Hunting Heritage and Conservation Outreach programs or in formal tours for schools, daycares, summer camps and other groups.” These programs are focused on not only creating new hunters but also communities of hunters who can help serve one another once recruited. [caption id="attachment_3532" align="aligncenter" width="650"] A look at the RMEF facility helping to create new hunters.[/caption]
RMEF also partners with other organizations and facilities and contributes about $1.3 million per year to promote the shooting sports, hunter education, hunter advocacy and outreach, mentored hunts, outdoor skills instruction and natural resource education in sponsoring approximately 400 Hunting Heritage and Conservation Outreach programs per year. This program reaches more than 220,000 people annually at facilities across the country.
“Connect with a local RMEF chapter to learn more about what they have going on and opportunities to help out with a volunteer project,” Rich says. “Ensuring the future of our hunting heritage is a crucial part of RMEF’s work.”
Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited (DU) is well-known for hosting youth hunts, Green Wing Days and other programs to introduce kids to the outdoors. Interestingly, it’s now focusing significant efforts at the high school and collegiate levels. It has 54 collegiate DU Varsity chapters across the country. Those members are helping to spread the hunting heritage message to their peers — all in the name of recruitment, retention and reactivation. [caption id="attachment_3534" align="aligncenter" width="650"] More than 200 students from 54 chapters attended the 2019 Third Term summit.[/caption]
Part of this program includes Third Term, a college leadership summit that focuses on collegiate DU chapters. Gathering students from across the country, Third Term was started in 1984. “We use our headquarters to bring in hundreds of students from across the country,” says Mark Horobetz, DU Manager of Youth and Education Programs. “This symposium includes an R3 breakout. It’s a social event, but they bring in all walks of life — people who’ve hunted and people who haven’t.”
These breakouts share insight on ways attendees can reach potential hunters, how to approach them, and methods for retaining them one recruited.
“These students collaborate together to introduce new hunters to the outdoors,” Horobetz says. “ We have volunteers who come and help.” Once back at their respective colleges, these young adults work to share hunting with other students on campus.