Licensing nationwide trending up

Finally, some good news.

For years, hunters have been hearing that license sales have been declining and all of the bad things that might portend as a result.

That trend finally took a turn for the better in 2009.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there were 12,974,534 hunting license holders -- defined as an individual hunter, regardless of how many licenses they bought -- nationwide in 2009. That was the largest number since 2002 and a jump of 526,494 over 2008.

The 3.6 percent increase was the largest single-year jump recorded since 1974, news celebrated by hunting's supporters.

"This is great news for our industry and everyone associated with hunting," said Steve Sanetti, president and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. "Many efforts are at work to build hunting participation, and they are paying off. More people are enjoying the outdoors and sharing the tradition of hunting with family and friends. Also, more hunting license sales translate into more funds for wildlife conservation."

Sanetti attributed the sales increase to several factors, including recruitment efforts and the poor economy, which left more hunters with time off and a desire to put meat in the freezer.

"Due to continued urbanization and changes in our culture, hunting will face significant challenges for the foreseeable future," Sanetti said. "But at the same time, hunting remains an extremely important activity in the lives of millions of Americans, as the latest hunting licenses sales figures confirm."

New directors

Two men, one of them a lifelong Western Pennsylvania resident, have been named directors of the Wildlife for Everyone endowment foundation.

James V. Eckles, president of Pittsburgh-based JSA Architecture and Engineers and Plans Examiners Inc. and a resident of Beaver County, and B. Michael Schaul of Mechanicsburg were appointed to the board.

Jim Fish of Coraopolis was among those re-elected to another three-year term as a director.

The foundation, based in State College, was established to provide private support for enhancing wildlife habitat, scientific research and education, land preservation and youth programs and for a science and research center.

Privacy

State Rep. Joe Petrarca has introduced legislation that would eliminate the need to provide social security numbers on hunting and fishing license applications.

The bill would ease the concerns of the those who are concerned about the possibility of identity theft if their applications are not properly safeguarded, he said.

Petrarca represents the 55th District, composed of parts of Westmoreland and Armstrong counties.

Article by Bob Frye,
Everybody Adventures, http://www.everybodyadventures.com

Copyright © 535media, LLC