NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: https://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1542285
18 Nebraskaland • December 2025 In my personal experience of holiday gatherings going back 30 years, the topic has always turned to hunting with friends, family and soon-to-be hunting partners whom I just met that night. But those new friendships can only be made if, when talking about our favorite outdoor pastimes, we have a decent idea of where to start the conversation. It's good to know, therefore, that the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports has done some of this work for us. In a recent survey conducted with 2,212 participants from across the country, the Council was able to gauge the public's views on hunting and shooting, not only providing critical information about these activities but also allowing folks who are trying to read the room exactly where to begin their conversations. The first thing you should know is that an overwhelming majority of people, 73%, agree with legal hunting and 74% agree with legal recreational shooting. I've witnessed this as well. Whether I'm visiting schools, talking to someone on either side of the political aisle, or introducing myself at a community event, I've never been scorned for my love of hunting. What I didn't know, however, is that folks do have their limits on what they deem acceptable. Unless you really know your audience, you might want to hold off on that story about the African elephant you shot. You're not going to get a lot of support in most rooms you enter. But deer … 72% of folks you come across will be OK with you sharing your passion. Even more if you're in a small town across America or a Midwestern state like Nebraska. But, this too comes with some considerations. While photographs of the big buck you shot seem like they would be the driving force to make a new friend, it might be more sensible to share your latest venison recipes or how you process your own harvest. What if you're a bird hunter? As long as it falls within the wild turkey or duck categories, you'll have a decent shot to win the room over (72% and 64%, respectively), but you're not going to attract a lot of new hunters to shoot doves (38% approval rate). More and more birders are entering the outdoor landscape these days, and many see this songbird as being exactly that, not a gamebird. If you're hunting a high fence area, don't expect a lot of ooohs and aaahs. Only about 30% will approve, next to 40% for hunting over bait. But if you use a bow and arrow or a firearm when hunting (73% and 70%, respectively), judgment will be minimal. Males approve of legal hunting more than females (85% vs. 63%), folks who live in rural areas (86%) are more approving than people from urban areas (65%), and people ages 35-54 (75%) approve more than those 18-34 years old (72%). What do you do with these numbers? It's pretty simple. Be respectful of people's differences and remember what your goal is: to get others as excited about your passion as you are. You don't do this with the photo of the 160-class Boone & Crockett you shot this firearm season, but you might just get another hunter in the field with the venison medallion recipe you just created. For more information about the survey, visit cahss.org. By Jeff Kurrus HOLIDAY PARTY CONVERSATIONS IN THE FIELD Sharing the story of your latest duck-hunting trip will go a lot further with a holiday gathering audience than relaying details of your latest dove-hunting adventure. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND