Who doesn’t remember the days when boys played cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians or war games with whoever we might be fighting at that time. Girls played their own games such as having tea parties, nurse and doctors and such.

When, somewhat unfortunately, we grew up and took up more serious pastimes, we turned to being hunters and anglers for our more mature hobbies. We also chose professions that, hopefully, gave us enough free time to enjoy the hobbies we’d chosen to dedicate our spare time to. Here in eastern North Carolina, it was only natural that we continue to enjoy the outdoor sports that our land is so ideally suited for. Hunting, boating and fishing and a host of other outdoor activities are a way of life to Tar Heels.

As much of our population moved toward the more heavily populated cities, some of us began to become more urbanized and our taste in sports moved toward golf, tennis and other more “citified” pastimes. The familiar outdoor sports such as hunting and fishing began to lose participants and, to those that are still actively engaged in these outdoor sports, it became very important to recruit new members into these outdoor sports that we hold so dear.

Several years ago I was between marriages and had joined the well-known Raleigh Ski and Outing Club to meet new people and enjoy various outdoor experiences. The club consisted mostly of others who were single and a lot of these were divorced women who had young children to look after. When it became common knowledge that I had a great deal of interest in hunting, fishing and boating, I soon found myself in high demand to take the children of single parents out for some “outdoorsing.” I was amazed at how many of these mostly urbanites knew very little about the outdoor sports like hunting and fishing. Quite by accident, I had become a hunting and fishing mentor.

Fortunately, our state (as well as all other states) formed a public service agency that is dedicated to conserving our natural resources, so that these resources will be available for all our future generations to enjoy. In North Carolina, our N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is the agency that is assigned to achieve these goals. One important task that goes along with their jobs is to aid in the recruitment of future outdoorsmen who will enjoy the outdoor sports. Particular attention is given to the recruitment of new hunters and fishermen.

Probably the biggest challenge facing the NCWRC group entrusted with carrying out this program is to find the proper mentors to help conduct new or returning hunters and fishermen into these outdoor sports. The group goes by the name of the “Hunting Heritage Program (HHP)” and is conducted under the direction of Walter “Deet” James, a biologist who has dedicated his life to bringing new hunters into the sport (walter.james@ncwildlife.org).

To summarize how the HHP works, James states, “The first goal of the HHP is to increase awareness to the importance of hunter mentoring and the second, to address barriers to participation and work to remove those within our control. As a resource based agency, our goal is also to connect people to resources (informational or otherwise) and the Skills-Based Seminar Initiative I mentioned has become very popular with interest and demand continuing to grow. The general idea, get people interested in activities, encourage social networking among others and themselves, and ultimately help them to help themselves outdoors. In short, the Hunting Heritage Program hopes to reinvigorate hunter mentoring, not reinvent it.

Basically the Hunting Heritage Program was developed for the purpose of conserving and maintaining North Carolina’s rich hunting heritage for current and future generations and is based on the premise that ‘it takes a hunter to make a hunter’ and that the Recruitment and Retention of hunters is critical to long-term conservation and management of North Carolina’s wildlife resources.”

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has dozens of opportunities in the 2015-16 seasons for mentors to take a youth hunting. For instance, this season’s Permit Hunting Opportunities include unique opportunities such as hunting deer in the Mountain Island State Forest or hunting waterfowl at the Currituck Sound. Youth hunts are for new hunters younger than 16 accompanied by a licensed adult. Youth/adult hunts allow the adult and youth to hunt together as a party.

“Our youth and youth/adult permit hunts are an excellent opportunity to mentor a new hunter this season,” said “Deet” James, “And, now is the perfect time to become a hunting mentor by signing up for our Hats On! mentoring campaign.”

Hunters who sign up to mentor a novice — youth or adult — will receive a free hat and bumper sticker. The campaign registration period ends Nov. 1, and supplies are limited.”

For more information on permit hunting opportunities, mentoring, or to sign up for the Hats On! campaign, visit www.ncwildlife.org.