by Cody McLaughlin - Monday, September 30, 2024
This past week, as my editor and I discussed possibilities for a National Hunting and Fishing Day-focused article celebrating what these traditions mean to families across America (and the world), I found myself reflecting on what these traditions have meant not just to me, but to my own family as a newly-married man—and especially to my 9-year-old stepdaughter (who will soon be my adopted daughter) and how the time we've spent outdoors over the years has not only strengthened our bond, but has also laid a foundation of shared values and experiences that I hope will serve as her guiding light into adulthood. It also made me reflect (and tear up a bit) on the tremendous impact that same outdoor education had on me when delivered by my late grandfather who passed just this year. He sure would have been proud to see the photos we took on Sept. 28 as we celebrated National Hunting and Fishing Day 2024.
Discipline, Encouragement and a Strong Sense of Tradition
When I first introduced my daughter to the great outdoors, I wasn’t sure how she would take to it. Hunting and fishing are activities I hold dear, and I had hoped she might find in them the same solace and sense of adventure that I have. And while I was nervous about the prospect of teaching a high-energy then-6-year-old girl, whose favorite activities were jumping around and high-volume singing, what I wasn’t prepared for was how quickly she embraced it—and how deeply it began to shape our relationship. Each morning spent in the duck blind or on the water together has truly been a gift, and one I’ll admit I have struggled to admit or acknowledge enough to her. Whether it’s watching the sun rise as we wait for the trumpetlike bugle of a sandhill crane, a fall favorite in our house, or the quiet, patient stillness of waiting for the bite of a great Alaskan king salmon, these moments have become the bedrock of my connection to this child that, as a young bachelor, I didn’t know I desperately wanted.
One afternoon, while plucking a near-limit of mallards we’d called into a slough and talking all about the meaning of tradition, she turned to me with a big smile and said, "I can’t wait to make these same memories with my own kids someday." Hearing those words filled my heart. In that moment, I realized that I wasn’t just passing down skills that will provide for her, though it’s easy to make yourself believe that in the moment. I was helping to shape her outlook on life while sharing the importance of conservation and the beauty of being connected to nature in a more meaningful way.
Common Ground Across the Aisle
In an especially-aggressive election season, in what has felt like one of the most-divided political landscapes of our time, this year’s National Hunting and Fishing Day felt especially poignant. Not only because of the memories we made as we enjoyed a steelhead fishing trip we booked for her birthday this year, and found ourselves throughout the past week after school and on the weekend hunting ducks and grouse, but because of the uncharacteristically bipartisan recognition the day received from leaders across the political spectrum. For all his faults as a leader (and there are many), I have to give credit to President Biden, along with the 43 Governors who came together to honor sportsmen and women as "true conservationists." It was a powerful reminder that the spirit of conservation has always transcended political differences, and it’s something that can continue to unite us. As hunters and anglers, we know that stewardship of our natural resources is not just a responsibility—it's a privilege. Our commitment to preserving the land and waters we love for future generations is a shared goal that, if fostered, can bridge the political divide.
For my daughter, these moments in the outdoors are about more than learning how to hunt or fish. They’re about respect—respect for the wildlife we pursue, for the environment that sustains us and for the traditions that have shaped who we are. As I watch her grow, I hope these lessons will stay with her. I hope that one day, when she takes her own children into the woods or out on the water, she will remember these times together and the values we cultivated.
A Stark Reminder
Instilling these traditions in our youth is how we can ensure that the sporting lifestyles we cherish continue for generations to come. In a world that often seems increasingly disconnected as we become more “technically” connected, these moments remind us of the deeper connections we share—not just to each other, but to our history, to the land, to the wildlife and to the shared responsibility we carry to ensure these traditions for generations to come. I take pride in knowing that my daughter will carry these values forward, as part of our family’s legacy and as part of the broader tradition of sportsmen and women who have indeed long stood as the “true conservationists” of this nation.
America’s annual National Hunting and Fishing Day was a reminder that, even in divisive times, there are still things that can bring us together. For me, that unity comes every time I step into the woods or cast a line, hand-in-hand with my kid, creating memories that I hope will serve as her compass for the rest of her life—and knowing full well that there is a finite, numerical limit on the amount of waterfowl openers or king salmon runs we will share on this Earth. That scarcity makes the moments all the more precious.
As legendary conservationist and Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris said on a recent podcast, “We all dream. It’s cool. We’re going after a giant bass or a giant buck, but the main trophy we all get… are the memories you get in life.”
And that’s what it’s all about, folks!
About the Author
Cody McLaughlin is an outdoor writer, conservationist and hunting advocate based in Alaska. He recently launched Trout Stream Studios as an executive producer for podcasts and livestreams in the hunting and veterans’ affairs spaces, including for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s The Sportsmen’s Voice podcast, the popular Blood Origins podcast and the Veterans’ Affairs Administration’s National Center for PTSD. McLaughlin also serves on the board of the Alaska Outdoor Council, the Last Frontier State’s NRA affiliate, and is a former board member and lead spokesman of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, where he helped to represent the state’s 1.2 million sportsmen in the political arena.