Uncategorized

After years of disparaging information about how our hunting traditions are slipping away, sportsmen finally have a reason to celebrate. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, recently announced a 3.6 percent rise in hunting license sales for 2009. This is one of the most encouraging signs for hunting in recent years.

National data takes a while to gather. Information from 2009 may not be exactly what we’re interested in today, but it is the best indicator we have of the direction our hunting traditions are heading. And finally, the direction is a positive one.

“This is great news for our industry and everyone associated with hunting,” said Steve Sanetti, president and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “Many efforts are at work to build hunting participation, and they are paying off. More people are enjoying the outdoors and sharing the tradition of hunting with family and friends. Also, more hunting license sales translate into more funds for wildlife conservation.” (more…)

You have breast cancer. Quite possibly, this is the most devastating statement a woman will ever hear. The moment the words register, fear and despair begin to pull on heartstrings. Staying positive is a struggle. Thanks to Casting for Recovery (CFR), many women are finding strength through fly-fishing.

Casting for Recovery is a national non-profit fly fishing program for women who have or have had breast cancer. The mission of CFR is to offer support and education, while providing an avenue for social interaction. To date, thousands of women have gathered together and found much needed relief from their battle with breast cancer at CFR retreats all across the country.

Anyone who has ever been touched by cancer understands how this devastating disease can turn your world upside down. Chances are you know a woman who is fighting, or has survived, breast cancer. You’ve witnessed her pain, while admiring her strength. You wish there was some way for you to understand what she’s going through, but that’s a road you have walk to truly grasp the struggle. Which is why Casting for Recovery is so powerful. These women understand each others’ emotions. They feel for one another a sense of camaraderie unattainable by those outside the circle.
Many women who come to Casting for Recovery events have never fly fished before, and don’t know what to expect. I try to explain, fly-fishing is a lot like golf. The first time you “play” you’re not going to be good. Hopefully you’ll have enough fun though, that you’ll want to play again, and again, and again. During each “round” you progress just a little. Before you know it, you’re setting new goals and trying to master advanced techniques. But don’t worry about being good, because in the true spirit of sporting life, if you approach each day with an open mind and an appreciation for just being out-of-doors, there is no way to you can fail. Through fly fishing, the women of CFR find an enjoyable challenge to focus on, as opposed to their on-going struggle. (more…)