TEXAS – Dove hunting season is a longtime tradition across Texas. Many hunters will tell you there’s a lot of nostalgia involved, but wildlife agencies have been struggling to effectively engage with young adults, especially people of color.

The Stewards of the Wild Program is looking to change that by getting younger people interested in getting outdoors.

“I was taught how to get outside growing up and so to work with a lot of people, especially with minorities, people who didn’t have experience getting outside growing up. Especially in Texas, there’s a lot more navigation that goes into that, and so I like helping people navigate – even going on a simple hike,” said Matt Hughes, who runs the Stewards of the Wild Program.

The program is part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and was designed to get young professionals between the ages of 21 and 45 outside.

Hughes recently took a group of members on a to hunt dove and even though some of them left empty handed, Hughes says the mission of getting participants outside was successful.  

Wildlife officials say hunting licenses have been up slightly this year as more people look for things to do outside during the pandemic.