Hunting Traditions and the Shooting Sports: Past, Present and Future
Contributed by Greg Purnsley
In the African American and Hispanic communities, hunting was a strong standing tradition, which once bonded community members, families and provided role models. When I was growing up in the northeast, outdoor traditions like hunting was just a part of life! It didn't matter if you grew up in the city or country. It didn't matter if you were a lawyer, teacher, farmer, city councilman, veterinarian or general contractor; people always had some connection to the outdoors! Even if you didn't hunt, people knew about the hunting traditions. If there was ever a place where individuals from all walks of life "networked", made a few deals or just had fun "cuttin' up" then it was on the hunting field or at the local shooting club.
Well today, hunting traditions are still alive and the hunting industry has exploded into a billion dollar money-making machine with TV, video, magazines, and retail! With the popularity of hunting, other activities like Skeet, Trap and Sporting Clays have gain momentum and were recently introduced into the Olympics. Even with such growth, the number of African Americans and Hispanics participating in hunting and the shooting sports has drastically decreased over the past 30 years. With all of the hunting industry's growth on TV, African Americans and Hispanics like Deion "Prime Time" Sanders, Bo Jackson, Walter Payton, Richard Roundtree the original "Shaft", Eva Longoria from Desperate Housewives, Jose Wejebe, Warren Strickland, Karl "Mailman" Malone, and Nancy Lopez the professional golfer, appear as host, guest or featured on national outdoor TV shows, but our "numbers" are still on the decline in terms of recruiting for the next generation and passing down our outdoor traditions!
 Greg is teaching his son Cameron how to handle a bow
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In terms of hunting, every state has a Department of Natural Resources, which has numerous programs and activities to introduce adults and kids to the outdoors. I have traveled up and down the East Coast and throughout the South and it's been my experience that our Department of Natural Resources welcome newcomers with open arms! Outside of the Department of Natural Resources, there are numerous camps, and non-profit organizations, which introduce kids to the outdoors as well. Many hall of fame athletes like Karl Malone, Bo Jackson and even our very own former president Mr. Bill Clinton has a passion for hunting and introducing kids to the outdoors.
If you are not a hunter then there are still sports such as Skeet, Trap and Sporting Clays for African Americans and Hispanics. The popularity of Sporting Clays has grown tremendously and many people equate the sport to golf. Instead of hitting golf balls on a golf course you are hitting clay targets with a shotgun. My wife at first was very hesitant to go to a Sporting Clays facility, let alone shoot a shotgun! But once she saw a woman on TV, who looked like she jumped out of a fashion magazine doing sporting clays, and did better than the men, she then gave it a try! Surprising to me, my wife loved it and looks forward to going often! Even my daughter has shooting skills and now shows an interest! Hey, when Tiger Woods showed an interest in golf, Earl Woods supported Tiger. I am doing the same with my daughter, because the last person who won several Gold medals for Trap in the past two Olympics was a young lady by the name of Kim Rhodes, who now has her own outdoor show. Why can't my baby girl do the same!
If you are interested in hunting or sporting sports, then there is a place for you. If you want to do Sporting Clays on a Southern resort with the full spa treatment and fine food, that's also available. If you want to hunt or do Sporting clays close to home or in the Bahamas, like Andros Island, Puerto Rico or Brazil then that's available as well. There is plenty to do on the Islands such as Scuba diving, fishing and enjoying the culture, but sporting clays and hunting is available as well! Whatever you prefer, get outside, try something different pass on the tradition and enjoy! The following are a few hunting or Sporting Clays destinations to check out close to home, in the islands or abroad.
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Call Dick Kennerknecht from Global Sporting Safaris, Inc., (888) 850-HUNT Ext 2
Website: www.dovehunting.us
Tiamo Resort at Andros Island: I spent the first 12 years of my life experiencing what the Bahama Islands have to offer and I can safely say Southern Andros Island is untouched and simply beautiful! If you take your wife or significant other, they will not forget it! Tiamo Resort is far different from the typical Bahama Island vacation believe me! All I can say is view the web page, what you see is what you get! Andros is a sportsmen paradise in the Caribbean. Hunting, fishing, scuba diving, food, private bungalow suits on the beach, everything is on Andros Island. Website: www.tiamoresorts.com. When in Andros, check out Yellow Dog Fly fishing Adventures and take advantage of their service.
Blackwater Hunting Services: This fine operation is located in South Carolina's Low Country. The Low Country is known for its true southern hospitality, liberal wild game limits, big deer, turkey, coastal fishing, fine food and attractions. The lodging is second to none and the pricing includes lodging, food, etc. Blackwater is set-up for the avid deer and turkey hunter, but offer so much more.
Call Terry L. Hiers at (803) 541-4868, Website: www.blackwaterhunting.com.
Prince George's County Trap & Skeet Center: This facility is owned and operated by the Maryland and National Capitol Parks and Planning Commission. The center provides top of the line clay target shooting facility which is open to the public year round day or under the lights. All clay target sports are available from Sporting Clays, Skeet, Trap, Five-Stand, International Skeet & Trap, etc. In addition, for those who are new or want to brush-up on those shooting skills then certified instructors are on staff to help.
Deep River Sporting Clays and Shooting School: As a new North Carolina resident, I had to familiarize myself with new hunting places, a new network of people, you name it! I gave up golf years ago and took up Sporting Clays and I have not looked back since! Put it this way, I'll leave golf to Tiger Woods and anybody who can hit a golf ball 300 yards straight down the fairway!
Surprisingly just outside of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary and Pinehurst, Deep River Sporting Clays caters to the family. Prior to my wife showing an interest in sporting clays, I would bring my son and daughter with me. My wife could kick back and relax at home for a few hours and I could get my time in at the range. Deep River is open to the public seven days a week and the owner, shop manager and staff are very friendly. Website: www.deepriver.net
Paradise Hunting Preserve has been in the Adams family for five generations. I bow hunted whitetail on this farm several times and my first impression looking at this 1000 acre place was "amazing"! Each member of the family are sportsmen without a doubt and are well traveled! I was definitely welcomed with open arms. As far as the deer, what can I say, it's North Carolina. In my opinion, this operation is a bow hunter's paradise, especially during September & October. There are five ponds, duck compounds, swamp bottoms, hardwoods, pastures, grain fields, planted pines, food plots, and everything else to keep wild game around.
Call Randy Adams at (252) 746-2748, Website www.paradisehuntingpreserve.com
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Originally a Delawarean, Greg now lives and spends his time in the Carolina's fishing, hunting and camping with family and friends. In addition to his pursuits in the field, Greg is a published outdoor writer and gives back by volunteering his time for the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission as a Certified Hunter Education Instructor, helping teach young adults' firearm safety, survival skills, archery hunting safety, conservation and regulations.
Greg has been in the pharmaceutical industry for 17 years and to forget about clinical trials, FDA drug submissions and Biostatistics, he heads for the outdoors or is cooking something on the grill! Whether it's fishing with his wife, kids, family and friends, doing sporting clays, or hunting Greg thoroughly enjoy the outdoors. If you want to contact Greg refer to www.purnsleyoutdoors.com or email him at purnsg@aol.com