The good old days? | News, Sports, Jobs

Anyone following the nearly never-ending debates following any proposed change to the Commonwealth’s fishing or hunting regulations has heard the phrase “the good old days” more than a few times. Those opposed to change often use it as a reflection of how bad things have gotten. Soon, there are listed memories of the never-ending herds of deer and streams teaming with trout during years past. But, in the past, was it as rosy as memories to paint them?

Growing up in Pennsylvania during the 1970s and 1980s, there was no escaping the excitement of Opening Day. The entire community was involved in one way or another.

Trout season was marked by preseason stocking trucks rolling through town, stopping behind the ice cream parlor, across from the church, or on a lonely dirt road bridge to fill a favorite hole, and Saturday morning had streams of anglers lining the banks and the local fire company holding a pancake breakfast fundraiser.

Come fall, deer season started with a day off from school; it was a holiday! If you were old enough to take to the field, it meant an early morning, followed by another pancake breakfast and, hopefully, a trip home with at least one deer to show for your efforts. Youngsters would spend the day listening to distant shots and awaiting the hunter’s evening return to see if a deer would be in company.

These are great memories. Undoubtedly, they are the times that built a lifelong love of the outdoors. But they don’t paint the entire picture. Just because they are fond memories does not mean they point to better hunting or fishing conditions than we enjoy today.

My childhood memories need to consider the number of healthy deer herds, how many fish were stocked, or whether or not hunters would have enjoyed success under today’s antler restrictions. Nor are they marred by the rolling pasture that is now a trucking terminal, the farm that was sold to a developer, or the new owners who posted their property because “they like seeing the wildlife.”

You see, memories are a funny thing. Memories tend to focus on the good, forget the bad, or even color everything into a better-than-real-life fantasy. This is not unique to hunting and fishing. Ask any law enforcement officer or lawyer, and they will tell you witnesses are Notoriously unreliable. Three people can see the same event and provide four different accounts. So why should we base today’s fish and wildlife management on what used to be?

Tradition is a valuable tool. It leads a grandfather to hand down his favorite rifle or rod to the next generation, causes a parent to teach their children the wonders of our natural resources, and makes the weary shift worker crawl out of bed on their only day off to later climb into a tree stand and wait for a target to appear. But what tradition does not do is keep up with changing times.

Changes to opening day, creel or bag limits, and legal means of hunting may not be traditional, but they are necessary to keep the tradition of hunting & fishing alive. With the change, athletes would have the opportunity to take to the field or stream. With changing woods and waters would be depleted, making it easier for the next generation to enjoy the traditions handed down through the years. Without change, our hunting & fishing traditions would not remain; they would eventually wither and die.

When the Commission proposes such changes, a process ensures they are best for the resource and benefit the athletes. Prolonged staff review, presentation to and debate by the Commissioners, public comment, and further review by staff occur every time. As a sportsman, you have the opportunity to review and comment on any proposal prior to adoption, and whether you believe it or not, staff take those comments into account.

So, while tradition and memories are, do not let them cloud judgment important. Take the time to review proposals, comment if necessary, and try to think about how they can improve future memories while keeping the greater tradition alive.

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