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Observation : Sportsman on the endangered species list

11/9/2014

6 Comments

 
PictureGeorge Yurcak Outdoor Enthisiest
With northwest winds howling today instead of fishing I found myself at the Waterfowl festival held at Cedar beach marina. Its an annual event held by local waterfowl clubs and enthusiasts. Everything from historical duck boats, decoys a swap and shop, and a shooting area where you can shoot the latest shotguns. There is a gun dog competition as well as seminars held about all aspects of waterfowling.

 I perused the festival taking in all I could, spending some money on a few things that would probably end up in my garage collecting dust.

I was listening to an old timer talk about a decoy on his table that he had hunted over for a good part of his life. He was passionate in his detailed description of days gone by spent hunting.  He caused me to reflect on my own time spent outdoors fishing and hunting.

 At 52 I have spent 40 years baiting a hook of some type. I will save those details for another day, but as I looked around I realized that something was wrong with this picture.

There were no young people!  There were the old guard happy to share a story and plenty of middle age’rs running around in Camo. But no young people!

 Technology has stolen the next generation and robbed them of the outdoor adventures that we had as children. They are glued to a screen of one type or another Living in a make believe world of cartoon warfare or fantasy sports. Back in the day we were exploring through the woods (an undeveloped lot on our block). Having dirt bomb fights or stealing Pillsbury biscuit dough rolls out of our refrigerator to fish for Karp in a local lake. Our bicycles took us everywhere there was Water to fish.

 For most kids there was someone that ignited a spark in them for the outdoors. A parent, a sibling, a friend or a neighbor.

 Can you even imagine a kid today, riding his bike to the library after school to look at pictures and read all the books he could find on fishing or gunning?

Not too long ago for most of us to remember, all the stores and hang outs were closed on Sundays. As young people we knew that day we would be with family or friends in some capacity. Being influenced in one way or another. For me we would either be fishing or shooting skeet or three generations of us riding our dirt bikes through miles of the powerline trails out east before sunrise highway was extended.

There is a major challenge faced by all youth in our current time. The list is long. Youth sports alone had a lot less demands put on the parents than now. (another issue for some other time)

I have many friends and peers who have introduced their share of people, young and old to the outdoors and I applaud them. Its never too late to find something that interests you.

I challenge you all to lead a young person that you know toward the lifestyle of an Outdoor Sportsman. Make the effort. I can tell you from experience the rewards are many and the benefit of knowing that what we enjoy will live on is the true meaning of “ priceless “


-George Yurcak

6 Comments
Scott Roberts link
11/10/2014 01:51:33 am

George - You look great at 52. As a father of 4, I encourage the outdoors to all kids. My first step, I refuse to buy an X-box or other video games. I did not play them and I don't want kids sitting, stagnant playing useless games. I had Antonio hooked on fishing at age 2 now 11 he has caught everything from snappers, porgies, blowfish, to 40 pound striped bass, Bluefin tuna and mako sharks. The girls are fair weather fishing girls. With them we can put a good catch of summer flounder together as a family. My youngest Sebastian is more interested in baseball, and super heroes. He has caught bluefish, striped bass, fluke, but likes playing baseball better. The team sports are now 3- 5 days a week, practice games, scrimmage, training. It is out of control. Coaches and parents are pushing the kids harder and at a younger age because other teams will to get the edge on competition. The liberal media has taken fishing and hunting shows off of ESPN, and NBC sports. The Saturday and Sunday outdoors sports shows shows of George Poveremo, Tred Barta, Jose "Spanish Fly" are no longer aired. . Recently there was some controversy of " Shark Hunters" being pulled off the air, by demands by the liberal anti-hunting/ fishing community. Beside my encouragement for the outdoors, the next push for them is scouting. The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America promote God, Country, the outdoors and values. Some kids have a single parent, who works too much. Scouting gives them the outdoors and values. I ask all of you that read this, kids or no kids. Next time you see scouts selling popcorn, cookies, Christmas wreaths or whatever. I encourage you to buy from them. They are not selling cookies or popcorn. They are selling scouting, the outdoors and good values.

Reply
kort panzner
11/10/2014 02:26:19 am

Hats off to you George. A well written piece, it is true times have changed but so has our lannscape we dont have those wide open spaces anymore for these young kids to explore. My kids love the outdoors as much as i do, but I too have to little time in my schedual to do the things i still love.
Kort

Reply
JACK ALBANESE
11/10/2014 07:56:33 am

George you are correct in you observations with lack of young people enjoying the great outdoors. When I was a boy we lived on the water and I always had a line in the water at some point during the day catching Giant Eels, Snappers and Flounder in the canal on earth worms. I didn't really take fishing seriously till I was in my 20's and still fish when ever I can in between Lacrosse Tournaments that take my son and I all over the country. I'm am fortunate enough to have 3 great kids and all love fishing even more than I do . So you see my point is it starts with the parents to somehow make a delicate balance between fishing and everyday life work. I tell my kids all the time when we are fishing that not everyone gets to see whales breaching crashing bunker pods and catching Striped bass at the same time right off field 5.
The funny thing is most of my friends have boats, talk about going fishing and doing this or that but never go. Now when I go fishing catching a fish is just a bonus...Enjoying life is the best catch of the day.
Jack Albanese- Stormy Petrel

Reply
Kevin Regan
11/11/2014 12:18:28 am

I agree with all the other posts. I have two girls, 9, and we spend all the time we can outdoors. Sure they play sports and spend some time on the X Box but they love to fish, look for bugs and critters, etc. I haven't seen too many girls play with spot and live eels in a bucket like it was an aquarium. I grew up on the water, fishing, sailing, and still get out at every chance I get, I average about 200 engine hours a year, I consider myself a "younger" person at 41- most people I know just don't make the time to fish or pursue what they love which is too bad.

Reply
boyd riedell
11/12/2014 09:55:39 am

Extremely well written...and very true...sad...but true...thanks for sharing...i take my kids as much as possible..nature is one of the few things still free and rewarding....

Reply
Luke Belford
11/13/2014 01:48:42 am

I agree 100 percent. I know I'm only 25 so not quite in the age group with the others who have posted but I know where you guys are coming from. Like Scott has done for his kids my parents wouldn't let me have any game consoles growing up, so I was forced to find my entertainment elsewhere. First was right down the street at the Brightwaters Lakes catching bluegill largemouth and carp. By age 4-5 I was hooked.
Now I was fortunate enough to grow up with parents who enabled my to peruse my passions. By 12 I was running around the bay fishing and hunting everyday. I think Al can attest that cold rain and snow never deterred me from a full day duck hunt.

Now as I am sitting in a car service returning from work sitting next to Jack's son, Jake. The both of us Merchant Mariners, who spend a solid 350 days/year on the water. We are discussing how lucky we are to have grown up the way we have and how important it is to pass the torch on to a young generation. As I started to write this jakes 4 year old son called to find out if there was any possibility of going fishing when Daddy gets home. So I think it is safe to say that Jake is doing his part to keep the tradition alive.
I can see how with all of today's technology it's easy for the next generation to loose touch with what is waiting for them just out the back door. However it is not only the next generation who is caught up in this technological loop. Many of you older folks wait for reports from here or nor'east or some other Internet source. Not going out and doing some scouting like everyone did before the Internet era.

I know what when I get around to having kids I will try my damnedest to instill my passion for the outdoors in them. After all we live on an island if you aren't taking advantage of what's right in your back yard you might as well move to middle America and create some more space for those of us who appreciate it.

Reply



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