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Post by 76chevy on Jul 10, 2008 11:46:06 GMT -5
The demographic and trends within the hunting population has shifted over the past several years. -hunters average age has increased indicating reduced recruitment of younger hunters and more aging hunters still hunting -hunters annual $ expenditure has increased (big business of hunting has really taken off) Exhibit A: Realtree, mossy oak, etc... -average hunter income has increased, seems intuitive given the increase is average age of hunters and increased income associated with age -reduced number of hunters, a smaller % of the population hunts than say 20 years ago -more competition for prime hunting land, leasing, more outfitters leasing up large areas, "pay for access" clubs etc... Here is some data from a survey of hunters in 2001 just for some general info: library.fws.gov/nat_survey2001_deerhunting.pdfAre these trends sustainable? What do they mean for the future of hunting? |
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Jul 10, 2008 12:03:58 GMT -5
Yup! Old, male, post-high school educated, middle income, working, Hoosier hillbilly, deer & other game hunter with some disposable income to spend.
I don't care much for the purple...
Interesting read!
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Post by 76chevy on Jul 10, 2008 12:25:12 GMT -5
ya, it would have been nice if they made the background camo! ;D Yup! Old, male, post-high school educated, middle income, working, Hoosier hillbilly, deer & other game hunter with some disposable income to spend. I don't care much for the purple... Interesting read! |
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Post by hornharvester on Jul 10, 2008 13:13:57 GMT -5
What do they mean for the future of hunting? h.h. |
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Post by Decatur on Jul 10, 2008 17:50:20 GMT -5
I;m afraid you're right H.H.
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Post by oldrookie on Jul 10, 2008 19:34:57 GMT -5
Like anything else in this world....got to pay to play!
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Post by 10point on Jul 11, 2008 7:21:26 GMT -5
[/quote]
"The beginning of the end"! h.h.[/quote]
I agree. Less and less people are going to be hunting. Land access is a major problem. I have been looking for another area to hunt this year and so far I have been told no 7 times I think. When I was young I had no problem getting permission to hunt.
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Post by 76chevy on Jul 11, 2008 8:07:42 GMT -5
So should those with the means to pay more control the access to all private hunting land? Like anything else in this world....got to pay to play! |
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Post by whiteoak on Jul 11, 2008 8:20:26 GMT -5
Like anything else in this world....got to pay to play! I guess you are right to some degree, but it depends on how much you want to play. If a guy wanted it bad enough there is a lot of public ground available if you do the leg work that's out there for free. This is especially true for the bow hunter. |
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Post by 10point on Jul 11, 2008 8:40:26 GMT -5
[/quote]I guess you are right to some degree, but it depends on how much you want to play. If a guy wanted it bad enough there is a lot of public ground available if you do the leg work that's out there for free. This is especially true for the bow hunter.[/quote]
There may be a lot of public ground available in some areas but most of us die hard hunters want our land close so that we can hunt more often. Closest public land to me is about 50 minutes away. Not near as easy to say hey Son lets go hunting for a couple hours tonight when that includes a couple hours of driving also.
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Post by 76chevy on Jul 11, 2008 8:46:09 GMT -5
I agree. The public areas are not close enough to a lot of hunters and many are just plain dangerous after firearms season opens. They are not the kind of place you want to take a youngster to introduce them to hunting. I guess you are right to some degree, but it depends on how much you want to play. If a guy wanted it bad enough there is a lot of public ground available if you do the leg work that's out there for free. This is especially true for the bow hunter.[/quote] There may be a lot of public ground available in some areas but most of us die hard hunters want our land close so that we can hunt more often. Closest public land to me is about 50 minutes away. Not near as easy to say hey Son lets go hunting for a couple hours tonight when that includes a couple hours of driving also. [/quote] |
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Post by whiteoak on Jul 11, 2008 10:01:32 GMT -5
There may be a lot of public ground available in some areas but most of us die hard hunters want our land close so that we can hunt more often. Closest public land to me is about 50 minutes away. Not near as easy to say hey Son lets go hunting for a couple hours tonight when that includes a couple hours of driving also. [/quote]
Well I can agree with you on that. There's nothing like walking out your back door and being in your stand in 5 minutes.
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Jul 11, 2008 13:53:32 GMT -5
I just think that kids these days have too many other gadgets and gizmos that consume their time. I also believe that hunting is just not being passed down from generation to generation like it was before. There are many different reasons for this (land availability, money, family obligations, work, etc.) I know I plan on passing down the tradition to my kids, but thats just not as popular as it used to be. I just personally cannot see going through life without hunting and fishing. I think I would be lost without it.
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Post by Woody Williams on Jul 11, 2008 13:58:37 GMT -5
What do they mean for the future of hunting? h.h. We not only have to recruit we need to retain older hunters too. |
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Post by Woody Williams on Jul 11, 2008 14:13:09 GMT -5
I just think that kids these days have too many other gadgets and gizmos that consume their time. I also believe that hunting is just not being passed down from generation to generation like it was before. There are many different reasons for this (land availability, money, family obligations, work, etc.) I know I plan on passing down the tradition to my kids, but thats just not as popular as it used to be. I just personally cannot see going through life without hunting and fishing. I think I would be lost without it. I agree, but I think a biggie is not having a place to hunt. Deer hunting, especially bug bucks, is a two edged sword. It sure gives us a lot of pleasure, but it also is tying up a lot of ground that used to be used for small game hunting. Small game hunting is a kid hooker on hunting. Peopel that own or lease "deer ground" do not want anyone else on there running off their big bucks. I'm somewhat guilty of taht myself as I don't want anyone on our ground until after season or Woodmaster and myself are tagged out. That is with the exception of a trapper who is low impact. |
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Post by indianahick on Jul 11, 2008 14:16:02 GMT -5
Passing down the hunting tradition does not always mean that your child is going to continue after they leave and form their own family. What is surprising is how many do not like the taste of wild game. Any, not just deer. Maybe part of that is the lessens taught by Disney and Bambi. Maybe some of it comes from television and movies being filled with anti meat people. We are a dying breed. Actually I think that the love of the outdoors and woods makes us a dying breed, video games seems to be a bigger attraction for many of today young people.
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Post by 76chevy on Jul 11, 2008 14:53:11 GMT -5
I agree. My five year son old eats deer steak like a madman. he can put away as much of it as anyone I know! The difference is that it is all he knows, he rarely has eaten steak other than deer. ;D ;D He would prefer knocking around the woods/campfire/lake/creek over sitting inside watching TV any day. Passing down the hunting tradition does not always mean that your child is going to continue after they leave and form their own family. What is surprising is how many do not like the taste of wild game. Any, not just deer. Maybe part of that is the lessens taught by Disney and Bambi. Maybe some of it comes from television and movies being filled with anti meat people. We are a dying breed. Actually I think that the love of the outdoors and woods makes us a dying breed, video games seems to be a bigger attraction for many of today young people. |
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Post by hunter480 on Jul 11, 2008 16:45:19 GMT -5
I agree. My five year son old eats deer steak like a madman. he can put away as much of it as anyone I know! The difference is that it is all he knows, he rarely has eaten steak other than deer. ;D ;D He would prefer knocking around the woods/campfire/lake/creek over sitting inside watching TV any day. Passing down the hunting tradition does not always mean that your child is going to continue after they leave and form their own family. What is surprising is how many do not like the taste of wild game. Any, not just deer. Maybe part of that is the lessens taught by Disney and Bambi. Maybe some of it comes from television and movies being filled with anti meat people. We are a dying breed. Actually I think that the love of the outdoors and woods makes us a dying breed, video games seems to be a bigger attraction for many of today young people. You`re doing it right then-congrats to you AND the young son.  |
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Post by cambygsp on Jul 14, 2008 7:21:25 GMT -5
I started taking my son as soon as he could walk. He chomped at the bit to get his hunter ed card and hunt on his own. My son is almost 15 now and he lives for fishing and hunting.
The down side is he has no interest in organized team sports.....he just wants to hunt and fish.
He quit football because it interfered with bow season, he won't wrestle because it's during deer season. Baseball is not an option because you fish in the summertime.
He can't pass a Bass Pro Shop without wanting to stop and look around.
My wife just rolls her eyes!
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Post by 76chevy on Jul 14, 2008 8:19:29 GMT -5
Thank you. I do the best I can. The older I get the more that I realize that time spend afield with friends and family doing what we love is always time well spent. You`re doing it right then-congrats to you AND the young son. [/quote] |
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