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By: Anthony Welsch
Jonathan Davis hasn't hunted for long compared to a lot Tennesseans, but he'll admit he's come a long way from his time scrambling away from the woods during a rainstorm, ending early, and taking cover in his house.
While Davis has become a bit more serious about his hunts, some things haven't changed.
Then, just like now, hunting is about more than just the hunt itself. It's about the <NOBR style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #2b65b0; FONT-SIZE: 100%; FONT-WEIGHT: normal" id=itxt_nobr_2_0>tradition </NOBR>and family that goes along with it.
"I just think it was something I was going to try because it was a family heritage sort of thing," Davis said.
The Tennessee <NOBR style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #2b65b0; FONT-SIZE: 100%; FONT-WEIGHT: normal" id=itxt_nobr_4_0>Wildlife</NOBR> Federation and others are pushing to make that 'family heritage sort of thing' more than just a privilege for Tennesseans.
They want an amendment to the state constitution making hunting and fishing a right.
"What is more fundamental to a human being than being able to go feed yourself," Michael Butler, the CEO of Tennessee's Wildlife Federation said.
Butler says there haven't been any specific groups or individuals targeting Tennessee's hunting laws looking to take away opportunities.
But in other states, some hunting seasons have disappeared, and hunters have been left with no laws to fall back on. In Tennessee, Butler says it's not that hunters want more rights or more seasons, they simply want to protect the hunting laws already in place.
"What this is, is a proactive step to clarify what a lot of people believe is already a right but technically is not a right," Butler said.
The economy is on their side as well, according to many of the groups.
"Hunters throw in thousands of dollars for licenses and stuff," Davis said.
It's actually even more than that according to the Wildlife Federation. An estimated $100 million in sales tax alone goes back to the state.
Permits and licenses also largely fund Tennessee's Wildlife Resource Agency.
"Sportsmen through hunting and fishing pay for the overwhelming majority of conservation efforts," Davis said.
Conservation efforts and a plan to change Tennessee's constitution to ensure the legacy will last long enough for hunters like Jonathan Davis to each his children, just like his father taught him.
"Anything can happen, I hope it doesn't because it's a big tradition for all of us," Davis said.
Jonathan Davis hasn't hunted for long compared to a lot Tennesseans, but he'll admit he's come a long way from his time scrambling away from the woods during a rainstorm, ending early, and taking cover in his house.
While Davis has become a bit more serious about his hunts, some things haven't changed.
Then, just like now, hunting is about more than just the hunt itself. It's about the <NOBR style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #2b65b0; FONT-SIZE: 100%; FONT-WEIGHT: normal" id=itxt_nobr_2_0>tradition </NOBR>and family that goes along with it.
"I just think it was something I was going to try because it was a family heritage sort of thing," Davis said.
The Tennessee <NOBR style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; COLOR: #2b65b0; FONT-SIZE: 100%; FONT-WEIGHT: normal" id=itxt_nobr_4_0>Wildlife</NOBR> Federation and others are pushing to make that 'family heritage sort of thing' more than just a privilege for Tennesseans.
They want an amendment to the state constitution making hunting and fishing a right.
"What is more fundamental to a human being than being able to go feed yourself," Michael Butler, the CEO of Tennessee's Wildlife Federation said.
Butler says there haven't been any specific groups or individuals targeting Tennessee's hunting laws looking to take away opportunities.
But in other states, some hunting seasons have disappeared, and hunters have been left with no laws to fall back on. In Tennessee, Butler says it's not that hunters want more rights or more seasons, they simply want to protect the hunting laws already in place.
"What this is, is a proactive step to clarify what a lot of people believe is already a right but technically is not a right," Butler said.
The economy is on their side as well, according to many of the groups.
"Hunters throw in thousands of dollars for licenses and stuff," Davis said.
It's actually even more than that according to the Wildlife Federation. An estimated $100 million in sales tax alone goes back to the state.
Permits and licenses also largely fund Tennessee's Wildlife Resource Agency.
"Sportsmen through hunting and fishing pay for the overwhelming majority of conservation efforts," Davis said.
Conservation efforts and a plan to change Tennessee's constitution to ensure the legacy will last long enough for hunters like Jonathan Davis to each his children, just like his father taught him.
"Anything can happen, I hope it doesn't because it's a big tradition for all of us," Davis said.