We are already way off track from English box locks so I will leave it alone after this.

Unfortunately we have a licensing system which discourages new hunters. If Dad didnt sign Junior up for hunters safety in middle school Junior will likely never hunt. The rub is only a hunter knows to sign his kid up. This is not at all good.

Hunting is doomed when it becomes and exclusively inherited custom where new hunters only come from old hunters. Attrition naturally pulls many away from hunting (which is fine). Some outside replacements are called for. Conservation and shooting programs are all well and good but this is working at the fringes. I would prefer we cast a wider net.

Our licensing system discourages replacement hunters because they might have an accident. Unintended consequences of a safety obsessed culture. It wont get better.

This has depressed me. I need a drink or something.