“I definitely came into the conservation field from a very standpoint, but I think now I’ve kind of gathered a wider appreciation for hunting. The way that my undergrad school put it was: tree huggers, and tree cutters all together, all working on the same goal.”
These are the words of a University of Montana student and former enrollee of the Wild Sustenance course. Offered for college credit. Wild Sustenance brings students into the world of hunting and conservation, as well as fosters responsibility for harvesting one’s own food. It strengthens the connection between students and the land they recreate upon.
One of the most difficult aspects of entering the world of hunting is where to start. Often times, hunting traditions are handed down through generations by members of one’s family. It can feel like a birthright for some– but not for others. But for those with a keen interest and a willingness to learn, Wild Sustenance offers a path to sustenance proficiency. Students gain skills toward competency in hunting and procuring their own wild meat. Perhaps the most important goal of these efforts is offering the next generation of young adults an entrance into the world of hunting and ultimately conservation.
The most exciting part is this course is just the beginning. The University of Montana and RMEF are excited to continue work on the recently formed Center for Hunting and Conservation at the University of Montana to advance science, research, education and outreach that will shape the future of land and wildlife management in the United States.
“We can rally around access. Access to land, access certainly to hunting, access to knowledge about conservation,” says Dr. Josh Millspaugh, who is closely involved with the Wild Sustenance course. “That opens the door because access becomes the vehicle for all these other things.”
Find out how you can become involved in forthering hunting heritage and building the conservation community with RMEF here.