John Flores: Outdoor resolutions should include flotation devices, introducing kids to hunting, fishing

When it comes to peoples New Year’s resolutions, I’ve often met them with raised eyebrows. No matter how sincere, I’ve found that few people have the fortitude to follow through with them.
However, for those hunting and fishing types, I’ve come up with five that I think are worth pursuing.
Resolution No. 1, is make it a point to wear a personal flotation device in 2022.
In an email exchange this week with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Media Relations Manager Adam Einck, he shared with me that there were 26 boating fatalities in 2021.
“Out of the 26, 19 were not using personal flotation devices that we know of. Three of the fatalities, it isn’t known whether they were wearing a personal flotation device or not. We had a total of 132 boating incidents in 2021,” Einck said.
One of the things I’ve always noticed at every landing in St. Mary Parish, when I’m launching or trailering my boat, is how many boat operators are not wearing a PFD. Essentially 1 out of every 5 boating incidents in 2021 resulted in a tragic fatality. So, why not make it your New Year resolution to start wearing a PFD? It might save you or a loved one’s life.
Resolution No. 2 is, if you have a youth hunter 16 years of age or younger, make it a point to enter them in one of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Youth Lottery Hunts. I can personally vouch for these hunts, as I entered one of my grandsons every year until he aged out two years ago.
Now I’m looking forward to when my two youngest grandsons are old enough to start hunting. The LDWF does a terrific job accommodating these youngsters and the parent or representative accompanying them.
Speaking of youth hunting opportunity, friend and fellow outdoor writer Glynn Harris of Ruston reported in Louisiana Sportsman Magazine this week, how 15-year-old Mangham High School sophomore Kaitlyn Bolten harvested a 13-point buck that scored 159 inches. The buck weighed 238 pounds and was taken on McElroy Wildlife Management Area during an LDWF Deer Lottery Hunt showing the potential some of these hunts have.
Since I’m on the subject about kids, a third New Year resolution should be to make it a point to take a youth fishing or hunting this year. You never know whether it will lead to a love for the outdoors, but with the average age of “male” hunters now approaching somewhere around 43 years old and females roughly 37, what do we have to lose?
Times have changed and kids today have all kinds of extracurricular activities to participate in compared to the baby-boomer generation. And though hunting isn’t going anywhere in the immediate future, the demographics aren’t overwhelmingly trending in an upward direction.
In fact, if one were to measure it financially, industry statistics from IBISWorld this past November 2021 point out that though the hunting and trapping industry grew 2.1% per year on the average between 2017-21, the industry is expected to decline 1.3% in 2022. The industry seems to have currently plateaued a bit.
A fourth resolution is, make it a point to go out of state to hunt this coming year.
If you are an avid waterfowl hunter, chances are you’ve seen a decline in duck numbers on both private and public land, where you regularly hunt. Granted, there are exceptions to the rule. If that’s you, then you should be extremely grateful.
For many, it’s simply not the case. There are some disconcerting trends that have occurred in Louisiana for over two decades where wintering duck numbers have declined.
One of the things I’ve noticed is the number of guys who are traveling to Oklahoma, the Texas panhandle, Kansas, and Arkansas to hunt ducks and geese, including myself. This past year I hunted Oklahoma and the goose hunting was nothing short of phenomenal.
Our party of nine hunters harvested 64 geese that included mostly lesser Canada, snow, Ross, and white-fronted (speckle belly) geese. I’ve spoken with social media friends who have experienced the same thing while duck hunting.
Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive with planning and sharing costs. I’m telling you to at least give this resolution some thought and let it roll around in your head. With the right outfitter, it’s a departure from the usual DIY hunt. You won’t be disappointed, that’s for sure.
Finally, a fifth resolution. St. Mary Parish has a lot of people who love to hunt and fish. There’s nothing like first fish, big fish, first deer, big deer stories, as well as the vast other experiences in the outdoors you participate in each year. Make it a resolution to share your stories and pictures with us this year.
It’s OK to toot your own horn sometimes and I’d like to help you.
Here’s to you and yours in the upcoming year.
If you have a story, anecdote or even a recipe you wish to share you can send comments to gowiththeflo@cox.net.