Good old days? | News, Sports, Jobs

Anyone who follows the almost endless debates following every proposed change to Community fishing or hunting rules will have heard this term “the good old days” more than a few times. Opponents of change often use this as a reflection of how bad things have gotten. Memories of endless deer herds and trout streams of years gone by soon come flooding in. But was the past as rosy as memories paint it?

Growing up in Pennsylvania in the 70s and 80s, there was no escaping the excitement of Opening Day. The entire community was involved in one way or another.

Trout season was marked by stocking trucks driving through town, stopping behind the ice cream shop, across from the church, or on the lonely bridge by the dirt road to stock a favorite hole. On Saturday morning, groups of anglers lined the banks, and the local fire department held a fundraiser for breakfast by serving pancakes.

In the fall, deer season began with a day off from school; it was a celebration! If you were old enough to go out in the field, that meant an early morning, followed by another pancake breakfast and, hopefully, returning home with at least one deer to show for your efforts. The youngsters spent the day listening for the distant shots and waiting for the hunter to return in the evening to see if there was a deer with him.

These are wonderful memories. No doubt, these are the times that built a lifelong love of the outdoors. But they don’t paint the whole picture. Just because they are fond memories doesn’t mean they indicate better hunting or fishing conditions than we enjoy today.

My childhood memories must include the number of healthy deer herds, the number of fish stocked, or whether hunters would have success under today’s antler restrictions. They are not marred by rolling pastures that are now a shipping terminal, a farm that was sold to a developer, or new owners who listed their property because “they like to watch wildlife.”

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

Tradition is a valuable tool. It makes a grandfather pass on his favorite rifle or fishing rod to the next generation, makes a parent teach his children the wonders of our natural resources, and makes a tired shift worker crawl out of bed on his only day off, only to climb a tree and wait for his target to appear. But tradition has not kept up with changing times.

The changes to opening day, bag or bag limits, and legal hunting practices may not be traditional, but they are necessary to sustain the traditions of hunting and fishing. The change will give sportsmen the opportunity to get out on the field or in the stream. With the change, the forests and waters will be depleted, making it easier for the next generation to enjoy the traditions passed down through the years. Without change, our hunting and fishing traditions would not survive; they would eventually wither and die.

When the Commission proposes such changes, the process ensures that they are the best for resources and the best for athletes. Each time, there is an extended review by staff, presentation and debate by the Commissioners, public comment, and further review by staff. As an athlete, you have the opportunity to review and comment on each proposal before it is adopted, and whether you believe it or not, the staff takes that comment into consideration.

So, while tradition and memories are important, don’t let them cloud your judgment. Take the time to review the suggestions, comment if necessary, and try to think of ways they can enhance future memories while keeping the larger tradition alive.

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