People hunt for almost as many reasons as there are hunters

People hunt for almost as many reasons as there are hunters. For most the reasons are personal, and reflect many aspects of their personalities.

Many years ago, hunting was a mean of providing food for the hunter and family. Back then, hunting for food probably was a primary motivation, although undoubtedly there were other reasons.

Today, there are a some folks who primarily hunt for food, but most folks take to the field in pursuit of game for a wide variety of reasons.

According to HunterSurvey.com, “American sportsmen hail from every walk of life imaginable, and just as they are a diverse crowd, so too are their reasons for participating in hunting. 

“While many portray hunting as an intense effort to get game, the reality is the overall outdoor experience holds much more sway in attracting people to the sport.

  To monitor long term trends, each year HunterSurvey.com inquires about hunters’ motivations. The January 2013 poll found that rather than one key or leading reason that motivated sportsmen to hunt, there are actually many. 

And no single motivator stands completely head and shoulders above the rest. When asked “Why do you like to hunt?, respondents provided the following answers (participants could check all that apply):

  * Like to spend time outdoors, 92%

* Enjoy seeing wildlife, 87%

* Enjoy the peace and quiet of the outdoors, 87%

* Enjoy the challenge, 80%

         * Like to spend time with friends/family who hunt, 74%                                                          

• Like providing food for my family/friends, 70%

• Other, 9%

“This matches recent in-depth National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) research that showed hunters go afield for fun, social and outdoor reasons. From spending time with family and friends outdoors to the peace and solitude of being alone in nature, hunting is much more than taking game,” says Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com. “

Future efforts to increase hunting, or to successfully promote hunting-related products and services, must emphasize fun, social interactions and the total outdoor experience hunting provides.”

  To help continually improve, protect and advance angling and other outdoor recreation, all sportsmen and sportswomen are encouraged to participate in the surveys at HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and/or AnglerSurvey.com. Each month, participants who complete the survey are entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates to the sporting goods retailer of their choice.

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BUILD A KITE -- Kid’s are invited to bring your parents to the Patoka Lake Visitor Center on Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m. to build their own one-of-a-kind kite!  

Participants will create their own individual kite using patterns and materials provided.  Once all kites have been constructed, the youngsters and their parents can  join a car caravan to the beach for some high flying fun!  The cost for this program is $5 per kite.

There is an entrance fee of $5 per vehicle ($7 out of state). For more information regarding this program or other interpretive events, call the Visitor Center at812.685.2447.

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KING KAT TOURNEY -- The Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail will hit the waters of the Ohio River at Henderson, Kentucky April 13.  

Tourney officials say this is an opportunity for local catfish anglers from Kentucky and Indiana to compete for cash, prizes and a chance to advance to the Cabela’s King Kat Classic. This year's Cabela's King Kat Classic will be Sept. 26-28 on Kentucky Lake at Camden, TN. 

For more information on fishing the Henderson tourney or other events on the trail, check out the organization’s new website at: www.kingkatusa.com. 

       Henderson has always been a hotspot for the Cabela's King Kat anglers and this could be one of the best events of the year. The last time Cabela's King Kat Tournaments were in Henderson records were set with Dale and Matthew Kerns setting a new Cabela's King Kat Tournament Trail record weighing in 210.9 pounds with only five catfish. 

Since that time the record has been broken again, but with the quality of fish in the Ohio River in the Henderson area, this could very well be the highlight of the year, said King Kat officials.

The tournament weigh-in will be held at the Riverfront Park in Henderson. Tournament hours are 6:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. All anglers must be in weigh-in line by 4 p.m. with a five fish limit per team. To help preserve the sport only live fish will be weighed in and all fish will be released after the tournament.