I've been a member of this forum for as long as I can remember, and I'm always blown away by how amazing the people here are. Whether it's the first hunt for youth, or somebody taking us along on the hunt of a lifetime, like ADDICT's Florida Mountain, NM Ibex hunt, or any of the Desert Sheep hunts we get to share with the people who post here from day to day. Best part - it's 100% free.
So I've been thinking. My dad is active in Trout Unlimited and their local chapter and fishing club that get together and auction stuff off, seek donations, work with G&F all to create awesome opportunities for kids, disabled veterans, newbies to the sport - and basically anyone that wants to learn how to start fishing in AZ. They are geared more toward fly-fishing, but anyone who wants to learn the sport, just going out with worms and power-bait, to really learning how to flyfish - cast, tie their own flies, etc., they are an awesome resource.
Truth is, we are that resource. We don't have a club, no meetings, no dues, but we have the ability to do some really great things here. I've been so inspired by all the stories this year of youth hunters, as well as the willingness of members on this site to help eachother out.
So many youth hunts and armed service hunts are documented here, but so far, besides encouraging donating tags to HOAL, I don't see us yet taking advantage of the tremendous support on this site to proactively get involved - to raise money for hunts geared toward diabled vets, to educate youth hunters or to actively enhance our hunting lands.
I think Amanda has given us an amazing tool - the place where hunters who care about and want to preserve and protect the hunting heritage we believe in, and the ability to pass that on to our children. But I think we have more to do, now that that tool - that power, is in our hands.