Hunters have ‘a moral obligation’ to carry on their culture, one Idahoan says. But how?

Across the country, the number of hunters has steadily decreasedin the last 50 years thanks to urbanization and a shift in tradition. To an extent, Idaho has bucked the trend but it’s becoming clear that something has to change - maybe the hunters themselves.

Section:Gallery

Sat., March 16, 2019

Brined for 24 hours and slow-smoked for six hours, Brad Brooks slices through the crispy skin of Mallard duck breasts from a duck hunt just days earlier. Each duck was coated in maple syrup and salted before cooking for a savory sweet flavor that enhances the wild game.

Darin Oswald Courtesy
Brad Brooks adjusts his earplugs during a duck hunting trip near Bruneau on Jan. 15, 2019. Brooks grew up hunting, but in recent years hes become a fan of creating unique, challenging dishes from his game harvests.

Nicole Blanchard Courtesy
Brad Brooks carves the meat from one of several Mallard ducks harvested from a morning hunt earlier in the week. A group of wild game foodies enjoy the smoked duck during a dinner party at his Boise home.

Darin Oswald Courtesy