4 ways bowhunters can help their communities during COVID-19
The times may be tough, but bowhunters are tougher! We are a resilient and proud group of individuals who will never let a global pandemic like this bring us to our knees. That said, even though you may be handling it all okay, others in your area might not be so lucky.
It’s time to step up and become the provider for your community that your family already knows you to be. Here are four ways you can use your skills to give back and help your fellow community members in need.
1. Donate extra meat to those in need
If you’re anything like the rest of us, you have an entire chest freezer (or two) filled to the brim with at least three years’ worth of mouthwatering meat. With the ability to catch a fresh turkey or two now and much bigger game this fall, you know you’re not going to run out of food anytime soon. So, why not share the wealth with those less fortunate in your community?
Between the spike in unemployment and the meat shortages caused by processing plant shutdowns, there are no doubt many in your area who are struggling to put a high-protein meal on their family’s table. Bring a smile to their faces by dropping off a pound (or more) of delicious frozen venison on their doorstep. Just make sure you call ahead first, so it doesn’t sit there all day in the sun!
If your local food shelf allows home-packaged goods, venison jerky is a great choice to donate as it’s shelf stable and can last for up to a month or more, depending on how long you dry it and how airtight it’s sealed.
2. Hunt closer to home
In order to help contain the spread of the disease, many health experts are advising against any interstate travel, at least for the time being. As frustrating as that can be, us hunters need to step up and keep our game stalking to closer, more familiar land. Fortunately, many states are easing up on certain licensing and requirements, so be sure to check your local DNR website to see what changes—if any—have been implemented that may affect you.
While you may have had to already cancel or postpone any summer hunting trips you had in the books, the good news is that this mess won’t last forever. Keep your dream alive by planning your future out-of-state (or country) hunting adventure right now, while you’re cooped up at home. Having something like that to look forward to is sure to give you a much-needed morale boost.
3. Teach someone you know how to hunt with a bow
As hunters, we’ve been way ahead of the curve when it comes to social distancing. Unfortunately, not everyone is as comfortable with isolation as we are. That’s why this is the perfect opportunity to show a friend, neighbor, or loved one that being alone in nature with just your bow and your pack can be an incredibly exciting and rewarding experience.
Lots of people are using their extra free time lately to learn valuable new life skills, so why not have that be archery? Set up a range in your backyard and teach them how to consistently and confidently hit the targets. This is especially good for those older kids who are stuck at home during the quarantine and need a good outdoor activity to break them out of their Netflix-binging rut.
4. Check in on those in your network
You may not think about it much, but the hunting industry employs millions of people worldwide, and many of them are now temporarily out of a job or seeing decreased hours. Use this opportunity to reach out and let them know how important they are to you and offer any support you can give.
Your network could include shop owners, outfitters, guides, taxidermists, or your group of hunting buddies that you haven’t seen in far too long. You’d be surprised how much a little extra thought on your part can do to help people cope with this awful situation we’re in.
Make a difference with Wasp
At Wasp, we’re committed to doing everything we can to help our local community as well. Plymouth, Connecticut has been incredibly supportive of our business for nearly 50 years, and we are proud to be able to return the favor. Shop our Wasp broadheads today and know that every purchase you make helps employ our team of hardworking, American craftsmen.
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