I have been contacted by a colleague who wants to do a story on a young American who has gone on a hunting safari in Africa.

No photo safaris and the hunter must be a teenager or younger.


We're starting another online magazine called Young Awesome Hunter. I'd really be interested in a story about an American kid who has gone big game hunting in Africa.


The quote below from NC State explains the motivation behind his efforts and I want to help him as much as possible.

Please email me if you have a child or grandchild, have photos of the hunt, and want to participate.

I don't know any more details as I only got a short message asking me if I would help.

editorusa@africanxmag.com

“Baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) make up roughly a third of all hunters in the U.S. However, many baby boomers are aging out of hunting without a younger generation to replace them.” – North Carolina State University College of Natural Resources (January 2021).

How much will he get for giving you his story?

I am not sure young hunters' faces should be splashed across the Internet nowadays and may attract unwanted attention

I think it's a great idea.

But the youngster will no doubt be a rich boy (or girl) and may be publicity shy as a result. And as Andrew says, having your face pasted all over social media as a hunter at that age may not be the right move.

As for payment, I don't think they'll be looking for money, Saeed. People do look for money for their stories, but it doesn't seem to fit the mould for an avid young hunter.

Hell, I'd have gone on safari in my teenage years if I had done a better job of choosing my parents!

Sad to say, I doubt that many of today's youth feel that way, whether they be rich or not.

My opinion about young hunters…they should be 18 plus
Anything before that is simply not earned as parents do most of it for them granted exception to the rule
Nowadays we coddle them , give them early special seasons, pay for their special drawings etc.
Make them work for that privilege extra hard and no freebies
That way they will become true hunters and they will know they earned it in subsequent adult years

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
How much will he get for giving you his story?

No money to anyone was mentioned to me in the message.

Guys,

Perhaps Just have pix with the trophies with only the crew in the pix. Also just don't release the kids full name. It might be pretty hard to track him down with those things in place. Maybe the kid and his parents won't care if people know. Not every hunter gets targeted.

You know there aren't as many antis as we might think. They are just a vocal minority that know how to get their message out.

I've lived in Las Vegas for 9 years now. I was a little Leary of coming to a liberal city considering what I do. I had no reason to worry. Only one person has come into my house that mentioned something negative about killing animals. He was in and out in 10 minutes or less. The usual comment is "WOW! I've never been in a house like this before!" If folks seem really interested I'll show them around but otherwise I just let them take it in or not.

Happy Sunday!

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by M.Shy:
My opinion about young hunters…they should be 18 plus
Anything before that is simply not earned as parents do most of it for them granted exception to the rule
Nowadays we coddle them , give them early special seasons, pay for their special drawings etc.
Make them work for that privilege extra hard and no freebies
That way they will become true hunters and they will know they earned it in subsequent adult years

If you wait until they turn 18, they will not be hunters.

I could care less if someone’s dad can pay for a sheep tag. They still have to climb the mountain, make the stalk, and make the shot.

quote:

Originally posted by LHeym500:

quote:

Originally posted by M.Shy:
My opinion about young hunters…they should be 18 plus
Anything before that is simply not earned as parents do most of it for them granted exception to the rule
Nowadays we coddle them , give them early special seasons, pay for their special drawings etc.
Make them work for that privilege extra hard and no freebies
That way they will become true hunters and they will know they earned it in subsequent adult years

If you wait until they turn 18, they will not be hunters.

I could care less if someone’s dad can pay for a sheep tag. They still have to climb the mountain, make the stalk, and make the shot.

+1

Just sent a deposit for my son's first safari and he will be well under 18. My dad is coming along as well for a 3 generation safari. Will my son fully grasp the gravity of it all while we are there...probably not. But I'm damn sure that one day he will look back with fond memories and appreciation. I can't wait to see the look on his face when that first kudu bull walks in front of him...

quote:

Originally posted by LHeym500:

quote:

Originally posted by M.Shy:
My opinion about young hunters…they should be 18 plus
Anything before that is simply not earned as parents do most of it for them granted exception to the rule
Nowadays we coddle them , give them early special seasons, pay for their special drawings etc.
Make them work for that privilege extra hard and no freebies
That way they will become true hunters and they will know they earned it in subsequent adult years

If you wait until they turn 18, they will not be hunters.

I could care less if someone’s dad can pay for a sheep tag. They still have to climb the mountain, make the stalk, and make the shot.

I should have been more specific
I meant 18 with all this extra not start the hunting
I started mine before grade school but no anything special like I mentioned before, as that only makes them expect things
Raise them on regular hunting and make them work for it and earn it
Anyway, I hope most people on here who raised kids would understand
Teach them tracking, bird watching, trees, plants, observe simple nature…make them wholesome hunters

Again, I could care less of a dar or mom takes his child on Safari or a sheep hunt.

I went on my first deer hunt that was successful w my biological mother. She broke her foot the night before. My reaction would have been no different than a big horn sheep.

I do not complain about others doing what I wished I could.

They still have to make the stalk, climb the mountain, make the shot. All the pit in the work activity.

I wish my father could have had an experience like a Safari w me. He was long dead by the time I earned the right according to you.

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Bunn:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
How much will he get for giving you his story?

No money to anyone was mentioned to me in the message.

You are printing it, to make money, and I thought payments were in too.

Isn't that the whole point of it?

quote:

Originally posted by PAGuardian:

quote:

Originally posted by LHeym500:

quote:

Originally posted by M.Shy:
My opinion about young hunters…they should be 18 plus
Anything before that is simply not earned as parents do most of it for them granted exception to the rule
Nowadays we coddle them , give them early special seasons, pay for their special drawings etc.
Make them work for that privilege extra hard and no freebies
That way they will become true hunters and they will know they earned it in subsequent adult years

If you wait until they turn 18, they will not be hunters.

I could care less if someone’s dad can pay for a sheep tag. They still have to climb the mountain, make the stalk, and make the shot.

+1

Just sent a deposit for my son's first safari and he will be well under 18. My dad is coming along as well for a 3 generation safari. Will my son fully grasp the gravity of it all while we are there...probably not. But I'm damn sure that one day he will look back with fond memories and appreciation. I can't wait to see the look on his face when that first kudu bull walks in front of him...

Excellent! I took my my 3 sons, wife, and dad to Africa. It was an amazing trip and we were there for 15 days. I had a great opportunity at the time to do it and glad I did. It would not of happened if I would have waited longer.

Any hunting you can involve your kids with is good. Sure, they might not fully appreciate it at the time but eventually they will.

I'd just say watch the laws of some countries on age to hunt dangerous game, which they really don't care much about, and the Lacey Act, which the Feds do care about, especially if you are rich and a Republican. Wouldn't want to admit to a crime in an article.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Bunn:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
How much will he get for giving you his story?

No money to anyone was mentioned to me in the message.

You are printing it, to make money, and I thought payments were in too.

Isn't that the whole point of it?

Yes, I asked about money and he said $250 for a 500+ word article with 3-4 photos.

I am writing an outline in an email and the type of photos needed is one of my questions.

To be clear, I am not printing this. Someone asked for my help.

We are drafting a post to address the questions people are asking here and outline the topics he wants to cover.

It might take a couple of days to sort out, meanwhile, it is good to hear different thoughts on the subject.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
I'd just say watch the laws of some countries on age to hunt dangerous game, which they really don't care much about, and the Lacey Act, which the Feds do care about, especially if you are rich and a Republican. Wouldn't want to admit to a crime in an article.

No elephants or cats, plains game only. Has to be a legal hunt in all respects.

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Bunn:

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
I'd just say watch the laws of some countries on age to hunt dangerous game, which they really don't care much about, and the Lacey Act, which the Feds do care about, especially if you are rich and a Republican. Wouldn't want to admit to a crime in an article.

No elephants or cats, plains game only. Has to be a legal hunt in all respects.

Why exclude cats and elephants if they are legal?

Alan,

I am not nitpicking your posts, but there is something that bothers me here.

Whoever is going to publish it, they are publishing for money.

And not paying the subject being described is not fair.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Bunn:

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
I'd just say watch the laws of some countries on age to hunt dangerous game, which they really don't care much about, and the Lacey Act, which the Feds do care about, especially if you are rich and a Republican. Wouldn't want to admit to a crime in an article.

No elephants or cats, plains game only. Has to be a legal hunt in all respects.

Why exclude cats and elephants if they are legal?

Alan,

I am not nitpicking your posts, but there is something that bothers me here.

Whoever is going to publish it, they are publishing for money.

And not paying the subject being described is not fair.

I made two posts back-to-back. You only read the last one. Here is the text from the first one again.


Yes, I asked about money and he said $250 for a 500+ word article with 3-4 photos.

I am writing an outline in an email and the type of photos needed is one of my questions.

To be clear, I am not printing this. Someone asked for my help.

We are drafting a post to address the questions people are asking here and outline the topics he wants to cover.

It might take a couple of days to sort out, meanwhile, it is good to hear different thoughts on the subject.


The exclusion of elephants and cats is because of the extreme emotionalism they create even within the hunting community. It is going to be controversial enough no matter what they kill.

We are very aware the young hunter has to be someone who can take the heat. We don't want a repeat of the suicide of Spanish huntress Melania Capitan from cyberbullying by woke anti-hunting whackjobs.

Melania Capitan

Here are the main points for the Young Awesome Hunter article. Please feel free to make comments or ask questions and I will get back to you with the answers or explanations. It would be great for the young hunter to write the article in their own words, however, I will help write it for them if needed. ~ Alan


Article is about a young American hunter's African safari.

$250 for a 500 word (or more) article

Maximum age is college senior. No minimal age.

Three or four photos which can be a dead animal, live animal, young hunter with a dead animal, or photo with an adult.

Story can include rifles, shotguns, or bows. African fishing stories are OK.

Direct quotes from the young hunter on how the experience has changed/improved their lives. At least 1 parent must be on the phone call.

How has the hunting experience changed the relationships within the family?

Spiritual aspects of killing an animal (if applicable).

Involvement with any hunting or shooting organization that helped the young hunter get involved.

How has it been a major step in their maturity?

- Handling deadly weapons and safety issues
- How they dealt with killing an animal
- Developing a new sense of responsibility handling weapons that has spilled into their everyday lives

No photos of dead animals posted on social media.

Plains game only – no elephants, cats, monkeys, giraffes, or trapping.

Another angle would be a young American hunter whose ambition is to be a Professional Hunter in Africa.

quote:

- Handling deadly weapons and safety issues
- How they dealt with killing an animal
- Developing a new sense of responsibility handling weapons that has spilled into their everyday lives

Bloody hell!

Kids here are doing it as soon as they can hold a gun.

My younger brothers used to sit on my lap, 410 shotgun on my shoulder, and we are aiming together shooting flying doves!

Or doing the same with rifles and shooting birds in the creek!

I used to take my 410 to school.

Leave it behind the class room door with a box of ammo.

Shooting birds on the way back home.

That was a proper life.

Proper growing up.

Where has it gone??

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

- Handling deadly weapons and safety issues
- How they dealt with killing an animal
- Developing a new sense of responsibility handling weapons that has spilled into their everyday lives

Bloody hell!

Kids here are doing it as soon as they can hold a gun.

My younger brothers used to sit on my lap, 410 shotgun on my shoulder, and we are aiming together shooting flying doves!

Or doing the same with rifles and shooting birds in the creek!

I used to take my 410 to school.

Leave it behind the class room door with a box of ammo.

Shooting birds on the way back home.

That was a proper life.

Proper growing up.

Where has it gone??

It’s gone to hell like I wrote earlier in my post

Saeed,

At least a while back, hunters had to be 18 to hunt any dangerous game. If a buffalo, for example, was taken by someone under 18, Tanzania probably wouldn't care, but if the trophy was imported into the US, that would be a violation of the Lacey Act.

The Feds here use it, usually when they want to make an example out of someone. u

quote:

Originally posted by M.Shy:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

- Handling deadly weapons and safety issues
- How they dealt with killing an animal
- Developing a new sense of responsibility handling weapons that has spilled into their everyday lives

Bloody hell!

Kids here are doing it as soon as they can hold a gun.

My younger brothers used to sit on my lap, 410 shotgun on my shoulder, and we are aiming together shooting flying doves!

Or doing the same with rifles and shooting birds in the creek!

I used to take my 410 to school.

Leave it behind the class room door with a box of ammo.

Shooting birds on the way back home.

That was a proper life.

Proper growing up.

Where has it gone??

It’s gone to hell like I wrote earlier in my post

Yes, what you've both said is true, well spoken, and obvious to us all.

I remember pickup trucks with full gun racks in my high school parking lot during hunting season. No one batted an eye and no gun was ever stolen. Today, it would cause a total school lockdown and a call out of the county SWAT team... and the student would be expelled and maybe even jailed.

The question is... What can be done about it? More to the point, are we going to do about it?

Awesome Young Hunters is a step in the right direction. It is going to take a lot of energy and guts to beat back the attacks from the woke Twitter Mob. And, you can bet your ass they will descend on anyone who attempts to promote youth hunters. However, like most bullies, they will run away crying when given a bloody nose.

They will mobilize their useful idiots and now AI-powered bots to attack these kids. We can block them on the website, however, social media is where the decisive battle will occur.

I'd like to hear everyone's comments and ideas about this. Should we just give up, knowing that when we are all gone there will be no one to take up the reins? That will be the result of doing nothing.

quote:

Bloody hell!

Kids here are doing it as soon as they can hold a gun.

My younger brothers used to sit on my lap, 410 shotgun on my shoulder, and we are aiming together shooting flying doves!

Or doing the same with rifles and shooting birds in the creek!

I used to take my 410 to school.

Leave it behind the class room door with a box of ammo.

Shooting birds on the way back home.

That was a proper life.

Proper growing up.

Where has it gone??

Exactly as I grew up as well.

It amazes me how society has changed — for the worse.

quote:

It amazes me how society has changed — for the worse.

Society has "woke .. n" up.

Don't remember exactly how old I was but I was already carrying a pistol, so that means about 14. We had poachers spotlighting on our lease in South Texas. My father left me in the dark with a rifle and a pistol with instructions to not let anyone pass while they went and tried to close the other exits.
I'm sure he picked the least likely escape route for me to guard, and they didn't come, but .. times have changed.

I will always remember standing there alone in the dark, waiting. And wondering how to deal with what might happen. But it's moments like that that make you grow up. Ran through a myriad of scenarios and how to deal them. But one thing was for sure, no one was going to pass.

Although fewer than ever, there are still young hunters who had the benefits of the 'raisings' we all had. The problem now is the organized bias and campaigns against the hunting lifestyle by the so-called animal rights movement. Besides the dichotomy of good and evil, humanity can be further split into those who make decisions by thinking or feeling. No amount of facts and data can sway the 'feelers'; who are empowered by their self-righteousness. However, there is always the 60% in the middle with little or no opinion. Those are the ones we need to reach with factual and compelling arguments. Here is the message that kicked all this off on my end. ~ Alan


Hi,

This Irwin Greenstein, publisher of the 15-year-old online magazine Shotgun Life. You can see it at www.shotgunlife.com

We’re launching a similar, second online magazine called Young Awesome Hunter. It’s the First comprehensive Marketing Platform Leveraging Social Media, Youth Programs, and Advocacy to Promote Hunting, Fishing, and Competitions for Young People and Their Families. We’re looking for writers proficient in those categories.

In terms of editorial, the emphasis is on the kids encompassing ages of around 10 to collegiate tournament shooters and anglers. The stories focus on the transformational aspect of their participation – basically how it changed their lives either as individuals or with their families who have been supporting their efforts.

The kids need to be interviewed, and in the presence of a parent or legal guardian, whether it’s in person, on the phone or some other platform. The stories should generally run about 600 words, with at least four photos. I’ve attached a Young Awesome Hunter media kit to give you an idea of what we intend to accomplish.

If Young Awesome Hunter sounds like something you would like to contribute to, please call me to discuss editorial ideas. Thanks, Irwin


If anyone is interested in looking at the media kit PDF, the PowerPoint presentation PDF, and Irwin's contact details, you can email or PM me directly. ~ Alan

quote:

Originally posted by LHeym500:
Again, I could care less of a dar or mom takes his child on Safari or a sheep hunt.

I went on my first deer hunt that was successful w my biological mother. She broke her foot the night before. My reaction would have been no different than a big horn sheep.

I do not complain about others doing what I wished I could.

They still have to make the stalk, climb the mountain, make the shot. All the pit in the work activity.

I wish my father could have had an experience like a Safari w me. He was long dead by the time I earned the right according to you.

It’s a matter of opinion and looking at it from different perspectives
My simple outlook at all this is…make it a bit harder on young hunter instead of easier
It is just like you go hard on new soldier and not easy or hard on young athletes and not easy otherwise you raise “ privileged “ adult who thinks it’s coming to them
No more no less
That is my whole outlook on it…earn it and you appreciate it hell of a lot more
You don’t care and I do and that is our difference LHeym

Shy, it sounds like Heym overcame some serious obstacles to be able to hunt. That's awesome. and Heym, noone needs to earn the right to hunt. Like Richard Harland said, its a "hunting imperative" .No need to have a chip on your shoulder, you are part of the hunting fraternity!

Agree with Shy though, at some of the shows, I've seen awards go to kids who may be hunters, but they are frankly privileged.

It’s a process and each parent does it according to the way they more then likely were raised
But what I found out over the years that the most hard core, dedicated hunters came from rough beginnings and had to learn hunting on their own
Of course I don’t try to put damper on any hunters on here, again just my own observation