What do outdoorsman love, and why should we be respected?

When I expressed interest in doing an outdoors column for The Daily Collegian it was met with open arms. However, I feel I have failed in giving good reason for why we love our sport and why we as outdoorsmen should be more respected for who we are.

There are a lot of angles I can take, but tradition looms like a giant cloud. My father learned from my grandfather, and then, like the passing of a family heirloom, he taught me. My favorite hunting buddy in the world is my father, and I would never trade those times for all the money in the world.

I am not the only one who feels this way. Last weekend at the Pennsylvania Hunting and Fishing Outdoors show at The Bryce Jordan Center, I saw the same thing take place that happened to me when I was young. I saw this in the eyes of Kyle Neff, who, at 7 years old, placed third in the turkey-calling contest. Neff gave a simple reason for his interest -- "I just like to do it." Neff's first reaction upon receiving the award was to look at his father, who responded with a big smile and nod letting him know how proud he was.

The Neffs were not the only father and son tandem at the show. The floors were flooded with youngsters who were running around, grabbing all of the free stuff they could from the booths. It reminded me of when I was young and my friend Jess Sowers and I did the same thing. It is this continuation of children's interest and family time that keeps the outdoor enthusiast going strong.

Today, I still hunt with Jess, his brother Eric and father Ed. They are my second family, and the times we have spent hunting and fishing together are my favorite times to reflect upon. These are times that are just not as effective conveyed in writing -- they have to be lived, as every outdoorsman can agree with. These are the times you have spent with your father, mother or friends in the outdoors.

So why should we be respected? The question may be, why should we care if you do or don't? In our hearts we know why we do what we do. But if you really want to get down to the nitty gritty, we are not Bambi killers. And I really take offense to anyone who may insinuate that I am. I have nothing but the highest respect for Mother Nature. I enjoy walking in the woods and taking in the beauty it has to offer just as much if not more than I like the sporting aspect of it.

I was always taught by my father to respect what has been offered to us as outdoors sportsmen. Before you can be an outdoorsman, you must realize why you are able to be one. Eric Baker, a professional hunter from Primos Game Calls and Accessories, may have said it best.

"As hunters we do more to help our environment than any protestor or animal rights activist ever will," he said.

That has been proven time and time again. Wildlife technician Bob Mothersbaugh is a hunter, yet I doubt if I have ever met anyone who loves deer as much as this man. Mothersbaugh runs the Penn State deer pens and helps deer 365 days a year in a way that most of us cannot comprehend. His dedication to the study and preservation of these deer has benefited deer and humans alike.

So are we blood thirsty, savage, country hicks who don't care about the environment in which we hunt or fish? No! Respect and tradition are what hunting is about and where its foundation lies. Like all sports, it holds a special place in the hearts of its competitors and will forever lay the groundwork for generations to come. One thing I will always look forward to is spending time with my son or daughter and giving him or her the same gift my father gave me.