Between August and September, people like Christian Caldwell and Jennifer Hogan busy themselves with preparing for hunting season.

That preparation includes gathering and maintaining equipment, scenting the fields with corn and making sure that hunting licenses and IDs are up to date.

Hunting has been one of Alabama’s biggest pastimes as one generation after another becomes involved in it. It is so popular that Alabama and the states surrounding it are often identified with the sport.

“Alabama is a very outdoors state,” Hogan said. “Hunting is so ingrained in the Southern culture.”

Alabama is known for having the reservation land adequate for maintaining game such as deer, pheasant, hogs and other animals.

When hunting season approaches every year, many spend the latter part of the summer preparing for the season. Methods differ from person to person, but many state that it is important to have warm, unscented, camouflaged clothing, scout the hunting area to know what animals are there, and make sure that guns and ammunition are cited.

“It’s a big revenue for Alabama,” said Cole Harbon, an employee in the hunting section at Dick’s Sporting Goods Store. “We have a lot of the reserve land here.”

Reasons why people hunt vary from person to person. For Hogan it makes her feel self-sufficient. For David Montgomery and Reggie Scott, it gives them an opportunity to be free of daily pressures and enjoy the great outdoors.

“It is more than just getting out there and shooting something,” Montgomery said. “It is getting out there and seeing God’s creation.”

In addition to sharing their love for hunting and what it means to them, these people also shared their concerns of how their favorite pastime may be affected in light of the multiple shootings in the past year.

Many agree that the Second Amendment protects their right to bear arms and therefore protect themselves and their families.

“I feel that the Second Amendment is my right to protect and defend myself, and that should not be taken away from me,” Hogan said.

Stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Gander Mountain have their own way of ensuring safety in handling and selling guns.

Gander Mountain makes sure that each gun has a trigger lock and is given a red tag when sold or brought in. Dick’s goes through a background check and does not allow access to minors.

“To buy a gun, it requires a background check and proper ID,” Harbon said. “We do not allow anyone 18 or under to hold a gun.”

Those like Caldwell who grew up hunting believe that they understand the importance of gun safety at an early age.

“At an early age we are taught the safety of gun handling,” Caldwell said.