Decline in Hunting Has Many Reasons

[KayL]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/09/03/fewer.hunters.ap/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/09/03/fewer.hunters.ap/index.html)

Where have all the hunters gone?
Monday, September 3, 2007

Number of hunters 16 and older declined by 10 percent during 10-year period
Number of Americans who fish also has dropped sharply -- down 15 percent
State wildlife agencies worried about drop in revenue from license fees(AP) -- Hunters remain a powerful force in American society, as evidenced by the presidential candidates who routinely pay them homage, but their ranks are shrinking dramatically and wildlife agencies worry increasingly about the loss of sorely needed license-fee revenue.

http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/09/03/fewer.hunters.ap/art.fishing.decline.ap.jpg

Observers say increasingly urban and suburban culture is contributing to the decline in hunters and fishers.

New figures from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service show that the number of hunters 16 and older declined by 10 percent between 1996 and 2006 -- from 14 million to about 12.5 million. The drop was most acute in New England, the Rocky Mountains, and the Pacific states, which lost 400,000 hunters in that span.

The primary reasons, experts say, are the loss of hunting land to urbanization plus a perception by many families that they can't afford the time or costs that hunting entails.

"To recruit new hunters, it takes hunting families," said Gregg Patterson of Ducks Unlimited. "I was introduced to it by my father, he was introduced to it by his father. When you have boys and girls without a hunter in the household, it's tough to give them the experience."

Some animal-welfare activists welcome the trend, noting that it coincides with a 13 percent increase in wildlife watching since 1996. But hunters and state wildlife agencies, as they prepare for the fall hunting season, say the drop is worrisome.

"It's hunters who are the most willing to give their own dollar for wildlife conservation," Patterson said.

Compounding the problem, the number of Americans who fish also has dropped sharply -- down 15 percent, from 35.2 million in 1996 to 30 million in 2006, according to the latest version of a national survey that the Fish and Wildlife Service conducts every five years.

Of the 50 state wildlife (http://topics.cnn.com/topics/wildlife) agencies, most rely on hunting and fishing license fees for the bulk of their revenue, and only a handful receive significant infusions from their state's general fund.

"They're trying to take care of all wildlife and all habitats on a shoestring budget," said Rachel Brittin of the Washington-based Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

In New Hampshire, only multiple fee increases -- which produced numerous complaints -- have enabled the Fish and Game Department to keep revenues robust. Its ranks of registered hunters has dropped from 83,292 in 1996 to 61,076 last year, according to department spokeswoman Judy Stokes.

"We hear concerns about land access," Stokes said. "People grew up hunting -- you went out with your family, your uncle. And now you go back, and there's a shopping plaza or a housing development. Some of your favorite places just aren't available anymore." [.....more on website]

Long article - see website for the rest....

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/09/03/fewer.hunters.ap/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/09/03/fewer.hunters.ap/index.html)

[fbuckner]

I can attest for one reason there has been a decline in youth hunters Single parents !!!

Personally there are alot of young kids being raised by either a mom or dad who doesnt hunt. I know of daughters and sons who love to hunt but for whatever reason the other parent cant put anything aside and do whats best for the kids. i know of one who let her son gothru the motions of hunters safety but wont let himhunt withhis dad because it is a "redneck sport" the kid wants to real bad.

[MICPL]

I cant imagine havng a son and not being able to take him hunting. I have 3 girls and a 6mo. old son while my daughters are not really into it, they have been out with me. I cant wait for my son to get old enough to take him with me.

As a hunter and a father, we are truly losing our way. to much video games and not enough family time. I dont care what anyone says, hang'n out in front of the TV with your kids is not family time nor do you bond when MTV is on.

Sad really....

[KayL]

...while my daughters are not really into it, they have been out with me.
I think it is really important to take your girls hunting, also. Even if they don't express any interest now. What's important is the exposure. They may not jump right into it now or even soon, but there may come a time in their lives when all things will come together and they will take up hunting, shooting, 2A rights, or something else that you as their dad have exposed them to and they enjoyed. Even if they don't do it personally, they may some day be moms and will be able to encourage their children and husband to hunt or shoot. It's all cyclic and we need to keep the cycle turning.

The same thought applies to any other sport or activity that you and your wife participate in. Give it time, and they will probably want to try most of them at some point. Some day I'll tell you stories.

[MICPL]

[quote=KayL]I think it is really important to take your girls hunting, also. Even if they don't express any interest now. What's important is the exposure. They may not jump right into it now or even soon, but there may come a time in their lives when all things will come together and they will take up hunting, shooting, 2A rights, or something else that you as their dad have exposed them to and they enjoyed. Even if they don't do it personally, they may some day be moms and will be able to encourage their children and husband to hunt or shoot. It's all cyclic and we need to keep the cycle turning. [quote]


They have all been out with me.(execpt for my 7yo.) she wants to go this year. What I mean is they enjoy it but my 15yo is well...15 lol, and just gettinng older i guess and my 13 yo is going with me again this year, but she is getting to the stage where she is getting bored of girl scouts and so forth, friends and the phone are top priority right now lol. which is no biggie, its what happens for now.

I make a deal with them every year. If they get A's all year they get to pick a concert and we go as a family. I have some really good kids so far, for the most part they have solid heads on thier shoulders. Any mistakes they make (i dont tell them this) is for the most part just "kid stuff"

I guess what im say'n is for the most part they have a general Idea for our gun rights and how important we keep thoses rights alive through hunting, M2a, shooting sports ect ect. I hope they do because I dont really shove it down thier throat. I just give them little at a time when its just me and them (our time) I dont want to overload them and it sounding like , " just another one of dad's speeches" I think they know its important, just for right now its on the backburner. just being kids.

[KayL]

Sounds like you're doing a great job.

My dad took me everywhere with him, and I took my own kid everywhere with me. (Not that I was the dad, but...)

[lee]

Here's my idea to turn around the loss of deer hunters.


I propose a "bounty " paid to all deer hunters when they sucessfully harvest a deer. The bounty would be paid by auto insurance companies since they are very aware of the 70,000+ reported car /deer strikes yearly in Michigan. The "bounty" would reimburse the suceesful hunter for cost of the deer license and a calculated fuel reinbursement . No hunter will get rich or make a living with these "bounties", but will help the hunter cover some of the high costs involved in hunting. The insurance companies win by reducing the amount of car/deer strikes and their related costs.


I think my idea may have some merit but will take years of data to see if it helps.

[Done Deal]

Here's my idea to turn around the loss of deer hunters.


I propose a "bounty " paid to all deer hunters when they sucessfully harvest a deer.

I think my idea may have some merit but will take years of data to see if it helps.

Lemme get this straight, you propose to relegate the majestic white tail to the status below varmints with your proposed bounty? And, that is going to eliminate hunter losses through attrition and increased costs and fewer places to hunt and....

Some merit? You will never see the data because it will never happen.

Bounty on deer....oh my, me thinks you are really trying to stir things up....

[lee]

Lemme get this straight, you propose to relegate the majestic white tail to the status below varmints with your proposed bounty? And, that is going to eliminate hunter losses through attrition and increased costs and fewer places to hunt and....

Some merit? You will never see the data because it will never happen.

Bounty on deer....oh my, me thinks you are really trying to stir things up....


The bounty helps with the increased cost issue. There are 70,000+ car deer strikes each year and those are the reported ones. The loss of human life and injuries are too much. There are too many deer in many locals. The bounty would help control the number of these traffic hazards. In a recent trip to the UP I had to honk the horn to get deer out of the middle of the road. Hell , maybe we should buy a junker car and go out and hunt deer with car---------365 days a year, probably up the kill rate!

BTW, AAA of Michigan sponsored a inner city hunter clinic on Belle Isle a few years ago . Introduced city kids to fireams and firearms safety and tried to promote the hunting sports-------------why? to reduce the herd and make roads safer!!!!!!!!!! AAA got a lot of crap for it with many people stating the the Detroit Darlings knew way too much about guns and they didn;t need to be taught anything more. The effort was not PC.

[appliancebrad]

Part of the effort here in Michigan was to lower the minimum hunting age. I'm still battling with our County Lead Instructor over his MANDATE that we only recruit kids 10 years and older. That is a violation of the DNR rules but the posters he distributes and his press releases say you must be 10. I've heard of similar problems in other counties.

We need more hunting mentors. My kids are too old for the youth season but I'm goiing to recruit s young hunter to take out this year. We all should be doing that.

We have to get them interested before cars/video games/girls/boys/jobs get in the way.

[Garbo]

people are too interested in trips to Hawaii,,, they spend a ton on a new truck or SUV but would never dream of taking it into a back wood trail. Aside from hunting I coach my daughters Basketball and Softball teams. Parents so rarely want to participate anymore which I'm sure is a direct result of why hunting is falling off. I'm fortunate because aside of modern "cool stuff" out there my girls love nothing more than to go fishing or hunting with me. They will sit there with me on a Sunday morning and watch an OLN hunting show as my wife walks by rolling her eyes saying "you guys are nerds" lol. Anyway, the nail was hit on the head earlier, single or selfish parents.

[Done Deal]

The bounty helps with the increased cost issue. There are 70,000+ car deer strikes each year and those are the reported ones. The loss of human life and injuries are too much. There are too many deer in many locals. The bounty would help control the number of these traffic hazards. In a recent trip to the UP I had to honk the horn to get deer out of the middle of the road. Hell , maybe we should buy a junker car and go out and hunt deer with car---------365 days a year, probably up the kill rate!

BTW, AAA of Michigan sponsored a inner city hunter clinic on Belle Isle a few years ago . Introduced city kids to fireams and firearms safety and tried to promote the hunting sports-------------why? to reduce the herd and make roads safer!!!!!!!!!! AAA got a lot of crap for it with many people stating the the Detroit Darlings knew way too much about guns and they didn;t need to be taught anything more. The effort was not PC.

WTF are you an insurance rep or what because you sure as hell are not a sportsman with your comments on hunting with your car. I don't even want to take the time to try and educate you on the realities of the situation. You have already bought the BS hook, line, and sinker.

Hell, I think we oughtta put a bounty on idiots who make such off the wall remarks, that would make for some serious hunting opportunities and over time, improve the median IQ on internet forums.

[KayL]

Aside from hunting I coach my daughters Basketball and Softball teams. ... I'm fortunate because aside of modern "cool stuff" out there my girls love nothing more than to go fishing or hunting with me.
Garbo, you are probably one of the most involved parents I know. Your kids are incredibly lucky to have you as their father. You must have had great role models in your own life.

[Done Deal]

Taking the time to properly educate your children and open their eyes to wonderful outdoors opportunities can be extremely rewarding.

I can still see (in my minds eye) my daughter bagging her first buck.

But, then again...I have seen my wife and son kill bucks too.

When my daughter was at MSU and came home from school to kill a deer, her friends were flabbergasted as she didn't seem like the type. When they ate the venison that she returned with, they were glad she was.

A couple of months ago, there was a weird get to know each other survey of the GA's at the university she is attending grad school at. Out of 22 students, only 1 male and 1 female had killed a deer. They never guessed it was her afterall, what does a hunter really look or act like?

Growing up with deer in their back yard didn't hurt the learning process for my now grown and gone kids and it certainly helped them learn respect for the animals that they pursue.

[Garbo]

why thank you Kay, some of the most kind words I've heard in a while. My parents drug me from stste to state (and at times country to country) chasing a dream and when I was older they traveled abroad to see me perform. When It came to the outdoors it was the same, camping , fishing etc etc so honestly I know of no other way but to be involved. Nobody forced me to have a family, was my choice so that my life for now. Something I live by but i think too many parents have kids because,, well,, thats the thing to do.

[lee]

WTF are you an insurance rep or what because you sure as hell are not a sportsman with your comments on hunting with your car. I don't even want to take the time to try and educate you on the realities of the situation. You have already bought the BS hook, line, and sinker.

Hell, I think we oughtta put a bounty on idiots who make such off the wall remarks, that would make for some serious hunting opportunities and over time, improve the median IQ on internet forums.


I do not hunt with my car --------I was paraphrasing many comedians on Blue Collar comedy channel on Sirius Satelite radio. Frankly, more people have taken more deer---unintentionally---with their car than during designated hunting seasons. I do hunt. I hunt with a .308 FAL with an eotech in the UP. I would not be considered a Fudd but a hunter that uses "scary" looking EBR's . I do not work in the insurance field -----work in health care. I have seen many dead and severly injured people that have had car / deer strikes. There are way too many deer in many locals. I have also witnessed and found herds of deer that had frozen and starved to death in the UP during severe winters. In certain locals there are too many deer and they are a hazard to mankind---period. I don't want to see the helicoptor gun ships come in and "cull " an area. I saw this done in Sweden after the Chernobyl nuclear melt down contaminated the reindeer herd with radioactive fall out. Culling has come to Michigan and Ontario in many cases because the officals won't open the hunting restrictions in their area. Kennisngton metro park , Belle Isle, Pointe Pelee Ontario, etc ..have been culled by paid "professionals" because the local government wouldn't change local hunting restricitions. At Point Pelee they shot deer from helicoptors and drove the deer out to the point where they mowed them down. I personally would rather see the deer population controlled by civilian hunters by loosening up our rules and yes by paying bounties to help defray the high cost that some of us pay to deer hunt.

[Done Deal]

I do not hunt with my car --------I was paraphrasing many comedians on Blue Collar comedy channel on Sirius Satelite radio.


Perhaps you should have attributed that off the wall comment before folks thought that you were a nutcase



Frankly, more people have taken more deer---unintentionally---with their car than during designated hunting seasons.

Frankly, I would just love to see you produce verification of that claim.

I do not work in the insurance field -----work in health care. I have seen many dead and severly injured people that have had car / deer strikes.


Many dead and severly injured....ok, if you say so I guess but, was it from hitting the 130 lb deer while travelling in a 2000 lb hunk of metal or was it from driving in a ditch and claiming that they were avoiding a deer. I have to question the "many dead and severely injured" as a direct result of impact with a deer. Again, verifiable statistics please.

I don't want to see the helicoptor gun ships come in and "cull " an area.

Would they be scary black helicoptor gun ships on deer hunts?



While some of what you claim is true....it is just some and not the norm. Speaking of not the norm...helicoptor gunships eh?