Battles across the globe continue, we’ve troops fighting for freedom and democracy while elected leaders continue to press forward with reforming health care in the United States on the back of a fragile economy. Indeed we’re living in a society and world with more questions than answers, and to assume this will change in 2010 is about as confident as picking the 2012 Super Bowl winner. With all this to consider it would be understandable if the world of hunting and fishing took a back seat to what few would argue are higher priorities. But we press on. We can, and we must.

As you read this offering there’s a good chance Christmas has passed by, but I won’t hold back on putting forth a few Christmas and even New Years 2010 glimmers of hope into your stocking. First and foremost as I alluded to I’d ask every hunter, angler and citizen to engage. And by engage I mean take the next step from complaining to your hunting buddies or co-workers about the shrinking hunting access, recent gun control legislation or exotic species threat in your area. It’s about being heard by the people we elect to represent us and not simply just acknowledging the problem and hoping someone else steps upto the plate. My dad impressed upon me as a kid, life is about showing up and pulling your own weight, not crossing your fingers and waiting for someone else to fix it.

From asking the local park board to establish fishing piers along the banks of the town trout pond or river to pushing for electing conservation grounded leaders. It’s about taking some time to read up on pending state legislation, relating to your local Game and Fish Commission on the latest deer hunting in your state. Grab ahold of issues such as Open Fields or gun control movements on the federal level and telling your Senators and Congressman you want more attention given to conservation issues.

The future of our time outdoors does not overshadow the state of our world, but I’d argue our time away from the trials and challenges of our world and the needed outdoors diversions take on even more importance. When he deer clears the woods and into the shooting lane for your rifle, or your pan smeared butter in the grandpas black skillet is sizzling awaiting a fresh walleye fillet the troubles of Monday-Friday disappear. As you nod your head in agreement with the warm rush of a trophy deer or the satisfaction of a flakey, golden fried fish plank you understand the connection between the legislative decisions and our time outdoors. Personally I’ve seen how I need the outdoors and my expectations haven’t dampened the past couple years and I spend more time than ever on the other side of the window and I let my elected representatives know.

I’m not in favor of tightening up gun control laws and the latest statistics affirm what gun rights activists have supported for years: gun ownership doesn’t equate to violent crime and the FBI 2009 reports relay it quite clearly. It’s supporting data I’ll include with a letter to my Senators when the next anti-gun bill is on the horizon.

At the same time the current administration in a cost saving measure has reduced the allotment of Conservation Reserve Program acreage from 38 million down to 32 million. Again I understand all to well how tight money is, but the benefits of two decades of CRP are beyond simply hunting and fishing with clean water, reducing land erosion and in an era where carbon emission is an everyday discussion it’s hard to believe the cost benefit of cutting the allocated acres of grass makes sense.

Sticking with the theme that talk is cheap and it takes money to buy whiskey, the cost of invasive species continues to mount from instances of snakehead fish and the fight against zebra mussels in the Great Lakes region has now reached the US Supreme Court.

My mind grows weary from the mental strain and I’m not finished, but I’ll leave with a final year end  request, don’t fold up your tent and pack up camp. Keep on fighting the good fight and we’ll do the same keeping you informed and updated on the news from the outdoors which will guide the future of our time on the other side of the window.