Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/464218
S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S 1 4 coops, following the path of locally sourced eating to the next level." Griffiths later describes hunters such as himself: "They're 25 to 35, they like music, food, art. They're socially minded, whatever that might mean. They're interested in hunting, and maybe they weren't five years ago, but they are now. . . We're taking it away from Ted Nugent." These quotes are grossly pejorative of traditional sportsmen and suggest there are camps of polarized hunters with little commonality between them. Similarly, the article's bias never suggests that hunters apart from Griffiths and his peers may also have an interest in art, food, music, and healthy eating; nor does it mention the long tradition of hunters opposed to barbaric blood sport; nor mention that trophy hunters also eat the meat. Similarly, this fall The New Yorker published a profile about Modern Farmer, a quarterly magazine launched two years ago that focuses on the benefits of locally raised produce and livestock. Despite the magazine's title, writer Alec Wilkinson speculates most of its readers don't make their livings growing crops—they're city dwellers with a renewed interest in agriculture's antiquated methods, whether for environmental or culinary concerns. Editor Ann Marie Gardner corroborates Wilkinson's suspicion and explains this new fascination with farming stems from wanting more self-sustaining, natural ways to eat less possible in urban environments. These neo-farmers remain fixed to the city, likely because of their professions, but choose to live off the land for luxury, armed with the knowledge that doing so benefits the environment and their health. The fact that Modern Farmer can attract a readership that has only a loose connection with its subject matter suggests there's an audience beyond the typical hook-and-bullet outdoor crowd interested in land and wildlife management. While Modern Farmer exclusively covers agrarian issues, hunting seems like the next logical step in the farm-to- table and locavore movements it promotes. Some devotees to these beliefs, such as Jesse Griffiths, have already arrived at this conclusion, and it would come as no surprise to see more of these rural revivalists trek to the field, gun in hand. The profile also notes that since Modern Farmer's inception in 2013, the magazine has become a talking point in elite media circles, garnering high praise (and a National Magazine Award), which further indicates an increased fascination with the ethos it espouses. Now the question is how will this renewed vigor for locally produced food affect hunting in America? Experienced sportsmen may be rolling their eyes at all of this, imagining a bunch of yuppies tramping through the woods and scaring off all the deer. And they're probably right—these new hunters will inevitably foul opportunities at game. But despite however self-important or naive hipsters may seem, their presence should be embraced nonetheless, for the sake of the sport and wildlife, both of which they seem bent to encourage. These eager, engaged sportsmen may provide the jolt of enthusiasm needed to combat the misguided and poorly informed anti-hunting rhetoric that too often proliferates through the creative class. Now we'll just have to wait and see how deep their convictions run if shooting game doesn't stay in vogue. — JR Sullivan TRace The pRovenance of YouR RigbY fiReaRm Renowned London gunmaker John Rigby & Co. has announced an invaluable new historical research service that will enable Rigby owners to discover the provenance of their firearm. This includes the year it was made, who it was first sold to, its action number and serial numbers and, if available, information on its style and finish. Rigby owners who want to take up the service need to supply the firm with the serial number of their rifle or shotgun. Rigby's in-house historian, Steve Helsley, then will search through the relevant company ledger to discover the firearm's provenance. Rigby's 82 history-filled ledgers are kept at its purpose-built Vauxhall-based showroom and include records of all the guns Rigby has made since 1775. continued on 170 Rigby's in-house historian Steve Helsley searches one of company's 82 production ledgers.