Indeed, the future of many fish and wildlife species rests in the hands of the individuals we elect to public office. A lot of sportsmen would rather sit around the local coffee shop grumbling about our inept politicians than to do their homework and elect qualified candidates. Voters who do get involved tend to cast their ballot on the basis of a single issue or vote a straight-party ticket. The general public tends to lean towards the candidate who makes the most convincing case that he or she will lower taxes. With sportsmen, gun control is often the hot-button issue.
Hunters tend to vote for pro-gun candidates regardless of their positions on other issues.
As a general rule, the Republican party tends to be pro-gun and the, Democrats tend to favor stricter gun control legislation. Most of the candidates endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters over the years have been Democrats. As an avid hunter, I'm no more ready to give up my guns than the next guy, but I'm not excited about seeing small wetlands vanish from the landscape or every square inch of our national forests clear-cut, either. I'd suggest shopping for the best candidates, studying their records in an effort to find those who will do the best job of representing sportsmen and the environment, regardless of their party. Pay more attention to the candidates' past records on key issues and less attention to what they're saying on the campaign trail.