What is an ethical nature lover, what does that mean? Sure you have the regulations and laws of hunting and fishing. It is very important that nature lovers know the laws and regulations of the area in which they are hunting or fishing and that we follow them to the letter. Things like always having the proper license, permits and tags, open seasons, open areas, bag limits, size or space limits, catch and release regulations, etc.

And these regulations will vary from state to state, county to county, and even lake to lake.

It is your responsibility, as an ethical nature lover, to know before you go. It’s easy to get a copy of your state’s or any other state’s game or fish regulation online.

But being an ethical outdoorsman goes far beyond written laws and regulations. It comes from your heart and soul and who you are as a person, it comes from your love of the outdoors. It’s about doing the right thing when no one is looking and when they are looking too. It is about honesty, respect, care and courtesy. It’s about how you value your time outdoors and that of others.

The ethical outdoorsman cares about the land and its resources and maintains them for future generations. Nature lovers are the original conservationists and have always been good stewards of the land and its resources. Ethical outdoorsmen have been making a difference since the early 20th century. At this time in our history, most of the deer, elk, turkey, antelope, bison, and several other wildlife species were nearly wiped out by early settlers and commercial hunters.

It was then that the athlete and ethical outdoorsman spoke and the congress listened. Sponsored by Senator Key Pittman of Nevada and Representative A. Willis Robertson of Virginia, the Pittman-Robertson Act was born. Then signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 2, 1937. This law saved America’s wildlife and helped restore populations that had been wiped out.

Many groups, foundations, associations and organizations of nature lovers have done more than anyone else to preserve and improve the habitat. Groups like The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Whitetail Unlimited, Bone-fish and Tarpon Trust, Pheasant Forever, The National Wild Turkey Federation, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and hundreds if not thousands of other groups spend millions of dollars and countless hours of volunteer work in the improvement and restoration of habitat that benefits all wildlife, both game and non-game species. Many of these groups actually purchase large tracts of land to ensure that it remains wild and undeveloped for future generations.

The ethical outdoorsman respects resources and does not abuse them. Waiting for the correct shot to harvest wildlife quickly and cleanly, and not making a bad shot that could injure an animal. Always follow up on a shot for as long as it takes to find the animal or be 100% sure you missed clean. We owe this effort to the magnificent animals we hunt, as they are a valuable resource. Also, hurting an animal and not finding it will make you feel like shit, or at least it should.

Respect the wildlife you chase and all other wildlife you encounter. Enjoy the spectacle that mother nature offers only for nature lovers. Experience the things that few people will ever experience.

Always remember that they are all creatures of God and we are privileged to be among them. It’s okay to say a prayer for the soul of an animal you just hunted and give thanks for a successful hunt. It’s also okay not to have filled out your tag, but still have a great hunt and some good memories.

Remember, it’s not about killing anything, it’s about time spent outdoors enjoying all the beauty and splendor that Mother Nature has to offer. Take the time to see it all, enjoy the whole experience and you will learn something new every time and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Respect your follower outdoors. Always have the courtesy to give your spot to other hunters or anglers. If you arrive at your spot and someone is already there, the ethical outdoorsman will back off and try somewhere else. Just as you would expect them to if you were already there.

Don’t go harassing another fisherman because he’s fishing and you’re not. We’ve all seen or had the guy who sees you catch a fish and comes and throws it right in front of you. Don’t be that guy!

And whether you hunt quad or side-by-side, always remember you’re not the only one out there. These ATVs can be a great tool when used correctly, or a huge nuisance to others when abused.

A great example of abuse happened to me and a fellow hunter a few years ago. When we were hunting Whitetail Coues on national forest land near the border in southern Arizona, my friend and I parked off the road at the top of a hill. We hiked about 45 minutes into the canyon and found a nice spot where three draws met in the main canyon.

We settled under some small trees ready for the deer to start moving, when we thought we heard a quad. The sound of the quad kept getting closer, then out of nowhere a quad appeared next to him with a loaded rifle on its handlebars. We jumped out of the trees and branded it like hell. We proceeded to inform the young man that he was breaking the law. He had no idea what we were talking about. We told him it was illegal to drive off the roads on National Forest land, but he still didn’t seem to understand or care. He took off and rode up the next ridge, then the next. We were so angry that we went back to camp before we did anything we regretted.

The next morning we decided to hunt in a nearby wilderness area because vehicles are not allowed. On our way to where we would park at the edge of the wilderness area, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw four quads coming up behind us. We parked and started to head out into the wilderness when we saw all four quads coming off a ridge into the wilderness. Mobile phones weren’t working and there were no hunting, fishing or forestry services anywhere. We were so upset that we went back to camp, packed up our things and went home. These four wild cards and their quads had completely ruined a hunt we had been looking forward to all year. So, as an ethical outdoorsman, know and follow the rules and laws and be courteous to others.

Catch and release is a great way to respect and preserve a resource. There’s nothing wrong with keeping some fish to take home, but only take what you need. And always know the bag limits and size limits for the water you’re fishing in. Always release the big ones, the trophy fish. With the replicas you may have made now, all you need is a photo and the length and girth measurements and you can make a mount.

Trust me, releasing a ten-pound-plus bass feels great and knowing that it will be there to lay its eggs again next spring makes it feel even better. Just make sure you have good photos.

One more thing I would like to say about being an ethical outdoorsman is to always leave it as you found it. Pack it in and out, leaving no trace. When you go outside, you shouldn’t be able to tell someone was there. Pick up your trash, shell casings, and anything else you’ve brought or someone else has left behind.

There are many individuals and groups that would like to take away your right to hunt or fish or even own a gun and they are well funded and will stop at nothing. Depending on the use, the ethical nature lover will take the right path and always show the best of the nature lover. And to teach the young outdoorsman the right way to become the next generation of ethical outdoorsman.

There are so many things that make an ethical outdoorsman. These are just some of the more obvious ones. The best thing you can do when faced with a situation where you’re not sure what to do is look within and do what you know in your heart is the right thing to do. Do this and you’ll be well on your way to becoming an ethical outdoorsman.