Outdoor Sporting Traditions Fading In the Mountain Empire

By Allen Gregory
Sports Writer / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: July 23, 2008

BY ALLEN GREGORY
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

CHILHOWIE, Va. — Derek Eller is big on tradition.

While other folks his age were sheltered inside on a recent rainy day, the 20-year-old Chilhowie resident embarked on a shopping trip with his father.
Eller was not searching for the latest video game or electronic gizmo. He was after gear, hunting gear.

“I like to hunt and fish,” Eller said. “My friends aren’t really into it, but I love the outdoors.
“I’ve been hunting and fishing basically all my life. “My father supports me and comes along hunting with me. That means a lot.”

Fading Tradition
If you listen to the experts and consider the stats, America’s passion with outdoors sports is dying.

According to the federal Fish and Wildlife Service, the number of hunters has fallen nationally from 19.1 million in 1975 to 12.5 million in 2006.
The drop in the sale of fishing licenses has been almost as dramatic.

Billy Sanders sees the evidence on a daily basis. Since 2004, Sanders and his sons have operated Crouses Hunter’s Paradise in Chilhowie.
The sprawling sporting goods store has been a Lee Highway landmark for 30 years.

“It seems like the youngsters aren’t getting into hunting and fishing like they used to for some reason,” Sanders said.

The most popular theories for that erosion include the spread of flashy video games, the popularity of the Internet, an increase in single-parent families, and the slumping economy. 
“A lot of parents work two jobs, so just don’t have the time to spend the time with their kids like they used to,” Sanders said. “The high gas prices just make things worse.”

Despite those obstacles, Sanders strives to share his passion for the outdoors to aspiring outdoorsmen throughout the Smyth County area.

“We’ve worked with a lot of the scout camps, and actually had one of our employees teach an archery class for a scout camp,” Sanders said.
“I try to pass on the traditions that I now. It’s a hard situation when you work, though. You have to find the time.”

The Gathering Spot
Just a couple decades ago, diverse stores such as Crouses’ could be found throughout the Mountain Empire.

From bait and tackle to shotguns and big-fish stories by the wood stove, outdoorsmen once flocked to these local gathering spots.

Faced with competition from the megastores, the concept of the local hunters hangout is gradually vanishing.
It doesn’t help that fishing and hunting licenses can now be purchased via the Internet. 

Matthew Lewis and Matthew Clark Hill, both in their mid-twenties, are not undaunted. Just a couple miles up Lee Highway from Crouses, the two Chilhowie High School graduates recently opened Lewis & Clark Outdoors.

“We grew up hunting, fishing and scouting, and we actually talked about opening our own outdoors store throughout high school,” said Lewis. “We’ve tried to get young people involved, and we’re hoping to see an archery class taught at the high school soon.”

Clark and Lewis are members of the Mt. Rogers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. They have hosted meetings in the archery range behind their stores, and are interested in mentor hunts with area youth.

“We can remember going on squirrel, drove and deer hunts with our fathers,” Hill said. “No matter what we did, the main thing was just getting outside.
“Statistics will show that kids who are involved in hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities stay out of trouble.”

Lewis said the simulated reality of video games is no match for the sights, smells and sounds of nature.

“There were video games like Nintendo back when we were growing up, but nothing beats actually being outside to me,” Lewis said.

According to Hill, it’s all about getting off the couch and taking that first step into the outdoors.

“Parents are busy now, but it would mean a lot if they could find the time to take their kids out,” Hill said. “Maybe they could just go out to the river and let their kids fish.
“I really think that young people in Southwest Virginia are interested in the outdoors. They just need someone to take them.”

Many older residents of Southwest Virginia can remember the days when high school kids were allowed to show off their pocket knives in the school lunchroom.

Reaching Out

Over the last two years, officials in 17 states have passed laws designed to raise the number of young hunters.

And the concept of apprentice hunting licenses has become popular. The licenses allow youngsters to get a taste of the outdoors with the supervision of a trained mentor. Completion of the standard hunter safety courses is not required.

Lawmakers in several states, such as South Carolina, have removed or lowered minimum age requirements for hunters.

There have also been pushes to allow hunting education classes in school and to enact amendments that protect the right of hunters and fishermen.
In Virginia, there are a variety of programs designed to increase the number of outdoorsmen of all ages.
For example, the days of June 6, 7 and 8 were set aside as free fishing days.

No fishing license of any kind is required for recreational rod and reel fishing on those days, except in designated stocked trout waters.

“This is a great opportunity to discover the joy of fishing and boating,” said Steven G. Bowman, Commissioner of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission in a prepared statement.
“Fishing is a wholesome recreational activity that produces memories that can last a lifetime.”

A freshwater fishing license costs $18 a year for Virginia residents. The cost of a trout license is $18 yearly, while a Virginia saltwater fishing license is only $12.50 a year for state residents.
The bulk of that money is earmarked for programs that directly benefit recreational anglers, such as boat ramps, artificial reefs and fishing clinics for children.

“We have some of the best river, lake and stream fishing in the country and we would love it if the non-fishing public would give it a try. It’s fun and rewarding,’’ said Bob Duncan, Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), which regulates freshwater fishing.”

For many veteran outdoorsmen, only the arrival of deer season equaled the opening day of trout fishing season. In Southwest Virginia, hundreds of fisherman would line the banks around Mt. Rogers on the first Saturday of April.

“We would see big crowds in here the whole week before opening day, then folks would be lined up elbow-to-elbow on the streams and rivers when opening day arrived,” said Billy Sanders, of Crouse’s Hunter Paradise.

“Interest in the outdoors have gone downhill ever since they did away with the traditional opening day,” said one older customer, who declined to give his name.

Reality Show

Young people once had to create their own fun, often by imagination or innovation.

With the advent of video games, kids can now hack, shoot and pummel away at simulated targets. There are even various outdoors themed games where participants can fish or hunt in simulated environments. To have success in the woods or streams, one must exercise patience and cunning. With experience comes success.

Johnny Sanders, son of Billy Sanders and a student at Radford University, feels the Mountain Empire offers an abundance of outdoors fun for kids of all ages. It’s all about making the first step.

“A few of my friends at Radford hunt and fish, but I have a lot more friends here in Chilhowie who love the outdoors,”  Sanders said. “Anytime we get a young customer, we try to encourage them.”
Like other sportsmen, Johnny Sanders agrees that the first step outdoors is the most important.

“It can be hard to get involved in outdoors activities when you’re young,” Sanders said. “But after a kid catches that first fish or kills his first deer, it’s a special feeling. He’s hooked for life after that.”

Eller said he feels fortunate that his father took the time and effort to expose him to a new and vibrant world.

“Computers are taking over,” Eller said. “People need to shut that Internet off, get outside and have some fun.”

(276) 645-2544.

Fast Fact: According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, the number of wildlife photographers, birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts, grew from 62 million to 71 million from 1996 to 2006.