The Harrisburg Adventure

by Dennis Lantz
1/30/2006

As we climbed into Gary's van, the horn began beeping and Bob likened it to a good hunting dog excited about a new adventure. I don't know if the van was excited to be off to Harrisburg, but we were.
 
It was Sunday, January 22 and Jack Rowe, Gary Fogelman, Bob Berg and I were off to the Pennsylvania Game Commission's quarterly meeting. At this meeting, the fate of atlatl hunting in Pennsylvania was to be determined and the recent news accounts that PGC staff was recommending against approval had us all nervous and unsure what was going to happen. 
 
This anxiety about the impending vote wasn't discussed much on the trip down to Harrisburg. Instead talk ranged from setting up demonstrations in small areas (Bob has a good idea about shooting downward off a stand) to how many Native American artifacts remain buried beneath the ground along the Susquehanna River. (There's a lot... Gary was not sure if it were possible to even estimate... Bob was sure a formula could be figured out.)
 
For the most part, Jack and I listened to Gary and Bob as they talked about many things. One conversation was about watching television and recognizing the people who were on. Bob said he was watching something on the Discovery Channel and was able to say, "I know her..." or similar. Both of them have had the experience a few times. I have only had that experience a couple of times, most notably when Tom Mills was in the L.A. 10,000 B.C. show on the Discovery Channel. I have that on DVD and watch it occasionally still. Of course, when I met Tom he had more hair than he does in the show, but that obviously doesn't effect his throwing or passion for the atlatl community.
 
In past meetings, the doors wouldn't even be open until 1 p.m. so we thought we had plenty of time to get there. When we arrived at 12:50 p.m. we found the doors already open and 41 people signed up to speak. Bob was number 42... it was going to be a long day. I decided that because he intended to say most of what I had written down, I would just sit and watch. I rationalized it by saying that I had talked to them last June; Jack did in October... now it was Bob's turn.
 
Commissioner Palone - our champion - had her terrible towel out in support of the Steelers who were traveling to Denver for the AFC Championship game. As we watched person after person get up to the podium and tell about how few deer were left in certain counties in Pennsylvania, I had two thoughts. One that I am blessed to be living where I do because we still have deer... and second that I wished I were home or at Christy's watching the game. Luckily we had some game updates and the news of the Steelers' victory brought a few smiles on a day when smiles were few.
 
It wasn't boring however. Everyone was eloquent and some were intense. Audience comments, though not technically permitted, were frequent. Pennsylvania sportsmen are passionate about their hunting and outdoors activity and even though many had differences of opinion on the job that the PGC is doing about deer management, all had the desire to make sure that hunting remains a part of our culture forever. I think that this common concern is important to note.
 
During the intermission break, Commissioner Hill pulled me aside and explained that the most likely course of action was that they were going to table the vote until later. He apologized that the committee hadn't investigated or supported our efforts in a better manner while many in the mainstream press were ridiculing us. (I never thought that anyone was ridiculing us, but they definitely thought the commission was silly for heeding our request. I'm certain it takes really thick skin to be a commissioner and I wish them the best always.) Everyone seemed to have a difference of opinion about Gary and Jack's time on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. They thought that it painted us as cavemen and primitive (see my letter). I happen to believe that having 2 million people learn about atlatls from a Comedy Central show is not a bad thing. Besides, I thought it was funnier than heck.
 
Commissioners Hill and Palone assured us after the meeting that if the vote were tabled it would be brought up with the proper backing and investigation. We left Harrisburg with the impression that all was well and that we would have to begin a PR campaign telling everyone that the modern atlatl hunter was not a Neanderthal running around in a loincloth. (You'd be surprised at how many people bring up loincloths when atlatls are mentioned. I tell people that I don't wear one because I want to increase our numbers, not scare everyone away.) Part of our imaginary campaign would be to present the atlatl as effective and efficient... and modern. Using the word primitive to describe atlatls, while fascinating to history buffs or those interested in ancient weaponry, wasn't actually beneficial to our cause. I wish I had thought of that a little earlier.
 
Commissioner Hill, in particular, was incensed at the lack of response from a PGC committee to defend our group. He told me that every hunting group is really a niche... that there are no majorities. People don't think of themselves as Pennsylvania hunters, they think of themselves as bow hunters, muzzleloader hunters, bear hunters, bird hunters, etc. He said that if the commission didn't stand up for one group, then the rest of the groups suffered and that was detrimental to all hunting in Pennsylvania.
 
The trip back to Turbotville was filled with lively discussion, but healthy, I think. That culminated in an excellent venison barbeque and salad prepared graciously by JoAnne.
 
It came as a surprise to me when Jack told me Tuesday that the commission had given preliminary approval to atlatl hunting. I didn't expect them to even vote on it, but fully appreciated the step they had taken. Against staff recommendations, they took our cause and have given us so much. A final vote is expected at the April meeting and I don't know what will happen, but much work lies ahead.
 
I still feel we need a PR campaign to accurately portray the modern atlatl hunter. This website was meant to present the modern atlatl community in a positive light and I will do my best to portray atlatl hunting in a proper manner. Of course, even after the vote in Pa., there are other hunters in other states who also want to hunt with atlatls. 
 
I can only end with some advise a teacher once gave to me... appreciate any accomplishments, be proud of them... pause briefly if you must, but then push on for more. When you are resting on your laurels, you aren't going anywhere.