To get back to the OP's post about banning trapping in California; the importance of this can't be understated whether one likes it, or not. By simple observation of things that occur there, it should be obvious that what is done is CA can have an impact where you live. I don't like CA, or anything about it for that matter, but that has nothing to do with the fact they wish to set the political tone elsewhere. More outdoors people of all types need to be involved in hunting for effects of things like this ban to be nullified, period. As a new hunter, I can tell you a few things that will work to get others like me interested and in turn blunt what is done to take away hunting freedoms. First, every person who is interested in the outdoors is a potential hunter. Why is this so? Because the outdoors at it's essence is about adventure and hunting is a natural and logical extension of that experience. In fact, it is the ultimate expression of the outdoors adventure experience since it involves all it's elements, ie, camping, backpacking, survival skills, shooting sports, wildlife biology, travel, healthy living, etc, etc. The ironic thing in all this is that hikers/backpackers/camping enthusiasts don't really experience the fullness of the natural experience they crave. Why? Many of them never get off the beaten path and actually see wildlife in it's natural setting since the wildlife they are seeking don't want to be anywhere near the trails and locations habituated by "outdoors folks". So, once such a one realizes hunting will take them fully into the experience they wish for, it becomes a no brainer to take up hunting. But that transition may take a while for a lot of people, as it did for me, and those already involved in hunting should take that into account when dealing with others. Be open minded, willing to help and interested in teaching. Kind of like what happens on this site, actually. If we, individually, share what/why we're doing when the opportunity arises then, over time, effects of the antis and others can be dealt with.
