The COVID-19 curve has
begun to flatten, but several conservation organizations are cautioning hunters
and anglers to maintain social distancing practices and follow directives set
forth by their home states and the Center of for Disease Control and
Prevention. The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership launched the
#ResponsibleRecreation pledge this week. It’s a coordinated effort that includes
the National Wild Turkey Foundation, Congressional Sportsman Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, and Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
As summer approaches, and
in an attempt to return to some sense of normalcy, more of us are heading
outdoors to enjoy our public lands and waters. The #ResponsibleRecreation
campaign is asking us to do this sensibly. That means maintaining social
distancing rules, recreating close to home, and buying licenses and park passes
online to avoid unneeded encounters with other people.
“Whether participating in
hunting, fishing, shooting sports, or numerous other outdoor activities,
individuals and families are getting outside as a means of coping with the
challenges of this health crisis,” says Whit Fosburgh, the president and CEO of
TRCP. “The conservation community recognizes that this is a privilege, one that
sportsmen and women take very seriously. Just as we’ve stepped up to fund
conservation efforts and recover at-risk species, hunters and anglers have yet
another opportunity to lead by example and ensure that outdoor recreation can
continue to delight and facilitate healing for anyone who ventures outside.”
The idea behind the
campaign is to showcase hunters, anglers, bird watchers, hikers, etc., spending
time outdoors in a safe manner. A handful of states shuttered access to some or all
public lands and waters in March and April, but most have opened state and
federal lands recently (though some states are only opening select sites).
Using the #ResponsibleRecreation hashtag is an opportunity to lead by example,
and to show our communities that we can safely return to the woods, lakes, and
rivers during these unprecedented times.
“Now more than ever,
Americans want to recreate outdoors for the health, physical, and social
benefits,” says Jessica Wahl Turner, executive director of the Outdoor
Recreation Roundtable. “As our country begins to reopen, we encourage outdoor
enthusiasts to continue practicing social distancing, respect the communities
you visit, and follow the health guidelines applicable to your activities. If
we work together to steward the outdoors and keep safety top of mind, we can
help our public lands and waters remain open and get our recreation economy and
jobs back on track.”
TRCP is also asking
anyone who takes the #ResponsibleRecreation pledge to advocate for public
access and reach out to politicians and other national decision-makers to
support legislation that will improve outdoor recreation infrastructure in the
U.S. To learn more, visit responsible-recreation.org.
Take the Pledge for
#ResponsibleRecreation
I take the pledge to practice
#ResponsbileRecreation and support efforts to get people outdoors during these
difficult times. I pledge to staying safe outdoors during the pandemic as I
enjoy the plentiful recreational opportunities this great nation has to offer.