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Post by greghopper on Nov 12, 2019 9:55:18 GMT -5
... in Michigan and nationwide, hunting is on the decline. In the 1970s, ’80s and into the ’90s, Michigan had as many as 1.2 million hunters. By 2018, fewer than 675,000 individuals had at least one hunting license...Hunting and fishing fees account for more than 90% of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ $42 million wildlife conservation budget...www.mlive.com/news/2019/11/hunting-is-on-the-decline-in-michigan-which-is-a-problem.htmlInteresting read
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Post by 10point on Nov 12, 2019 14:45:50 GMT -5
Good article but unless I missed it the writer failed to mention lack of access to hunting property as one of the reasons for a drop in hunting which I believe is a big one.
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Post by jjas on Nov 12, 2019 15:11:21 GMT -5
Here's an article from Outdoor Life on that very subject... www.outdoorlife.com/why-we-are-losing-hunters-and-how-to-fix-it/The most telling statistic is simple math. In 1982 we had a population of 232 million people and 17 million were hunters. In 2016 we had a population of 323 million people and 11.5 million were hunters. More people, less hunters. And those who remain are older, white men who are aging out. |
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Post by swetz on Nov 12, 2019 17:24:00 GMT -5
Here's an article from Outdoor Life on that very subject... www.outdoorlife.com/why-we-are-losing-hunters-and-how-to-fix-it/The most telling statistic is simple math. In 1982 we had a population of 232 million people and 17 million were hunters. In 2016 we had a population of 323 million people and 11.5 million were hunters. More people, less hunters. And those who remain are older, white men who are aging out. That's a pretty interesting article. It raises a lot of good points, but I'm cynical and skeptical about expanding the number of hunters drastically. All the things they said make sense, but it's tough to access ground. Especially in a state like Indiana where there is very little public ground relatively speaking when compared to a lot of western states. Simply put, where would all these new hunters even go? |
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Post by jjas on Nov 12, 2019 17:36:36 GMT -5
Here's an article from Outdoor Life on that very subject... www.outdoorlife.com/why-we-are-losing-hunters-and-how-to-fix-it/The most telling statistic is simple math. In 1982 we had a population of 232 million people and 17 million were hunters. In 2016 we had a population of 323 million people and 11.5 million were hunters. More people, less hunters. And those who remain are older, white men who are aging out. That's a pretty interesting article. It raises a lot of good points, but I'm cynical and skeptical about expanding the number of hunters drastically. All the things they said make sense, but it's tough to access ground. Especially in a state like Indiana where there is very little public ground relatively speaking when compared to a lot of western states. Simply put, where would all these new hunters even go? If you have money, you can buy/lease ground, it's out there. I sometimes wonder if part of the issue (for some people) is finding land to hunt on that's close to home. I drive 50 minutes each way to the places I hunt (and I'm blessed to have it), but it's a pain in the butt @ times. |
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Post by parkerbow on Nov 12, 2019 17:43:19 GMT -5
Well I know some people that quit hunting because of the lack of deer to hunt. I know some of you will say BS on this but it is true. I am a die hard bow hunter and I can attest that I have put in 108 hrs on stand this year and have not yet seen a mature buck let alone many deer But this really is no different than any other year. I have thought many times to just throw in the towel and quit hunting but I just love to be in the woods enjoying nature. I don't mean to complain but I know some of you guys on here see more deer on one sit than I do all season. I have been hunting for 36 years and rarely ever see mature deer and I hunt multiple spots. I rarely if ever see any rut activity or chasing it is just plain ridiculous. I consider myself a good hunter and try and do all the right things but the deer are just not there. My biggest deer is probably 135 inches and no I do not shoot the first buck I see either. Sorry for the rant but I am just discouraged about the deer sightings for years now.
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Post by swetz on Nov 12, 2019 18:20:01 GMT -5
Well I know some people that quit hunting because of the lack of deer to hunt. I know some of you will say BS on this but it is true. I am a die hard bow hunter and I can attest that I have put in 108 hrs on stand this year and have not yet seen a mature buck let alone many deer But this really is no different than any other year. I have thought many times to just throw in the towel and quit hunting but I just love to be in the woods enjoying nature. I don't mean to complain but I know some of you guys on here see more deer on one sit than I do all season. I have been hunting for 36 years and rarely ever see mature deer and I hunt multiple spots. I rarely if ever see any rut activity or chasing it is just plain ridiculous. I consider myself a good hunter and try and do all the right things but the deer are just not there. My biggest deer is probably 135 inches and no I do not shoot the first buck I see either. Sorry for the rant but I am just discouraged about the deer sightings for years now. What part of the state? Public or private ground? |
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Post by greghopper on Nov 12, 2019 18:35:59 GMT -5
Well I know some people that quit hunting because of the lack of deer to hunt. I know some of you will say BS on this but it is true. I am a die hard bow hunter and I can attest that I have put in 108 hrs on stand this year and have not yet seen a mature buck let alone many deer But this really is no different than any other year. I have thought many times to just throw in the towel and quit hunting but I just love to be in the woods enjoying nature. I don't mean to complain but I know some of you guys on here see more deer on one sit than I do all season. I have been hunting for 36 years and rarely ever see mature deer and I hunt multiple spots. I rarely if ever see any rut activity or chasing it is just plain ridiculous. I consider myself a good hunter and try and do all the right things but the deer are just not there. My biggest deer is probably 135 inches and no I do not shoot the first buck I see either. Sorry for the rant but I am just discouraged about the deer sightings for years now. Not all parts of the state have suitable land that would sustain a large deer herd. |
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Post by parkerbow on Nov 12, 2019 18:41:15 GMT -5
Well I know some people that quit hunting because of the lack of deer to hunt. I know some of you will say BS on this but it is true. I am a die hard bow hunter and I can attest that I have put in 108 hrs on stand this year and have not yet seen a mature buck let alone many deer But this really is no different than any other year. I have thought many times to just throw in the towel and quit hunting but I just love to be in the woods enjoying nature. I don't mean to complain but I know some of you guys on here see more deer on one sit than I do all season. I have been hunting for 36 years and rarely ever see mature deer and I hunt multiple spots. I rarely if ever see any rut activity or chasing it is just plain ridiculous. I consider myself a good hunter and try and do all the right things but the deer are just not there. My biggest deer is probably 135 inches and no I do not shoot the first buck I see either. Sorry for the rant but I am just discouraged about the deer sightings for years now. What part of the state? Public or private ground? I hunt Perry County. Mostly public but I have 33 acres of private that butts up next to tons of public. I have done everything I can think of on my 33 acres to try and improve deer hunting. I have a pond, 2 smaller water holes dug with a skidsteer, clover fields. hinge cut bedding areas and put up stands early and stay out. I just think the deer are so pressured in this county that they are different animals. Spooky as all get out and always on alert. Most mature deer on cameras are always at night. I am frazzled and question my hunting abilities more and more. I really do not know what else to do. I hunt the wind and always do a scent routine on every hunt. |
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Post by parkerbow on Nov 12, 2019 18:44:05 GMT -5
Well I know some people that quit hunting because of the lack of deer to hunt. I know some of you will say BS on this but it is true. I am a die hard bow hunter and I can attest that I have put in 108 hrs on stand this year and have not yet seen a mature buck let alone many deer But this really is no different than any other year. I have thought many times to just throw in the towel and quit hunting but I just love to be in the woods enjoying nature. I don't mean to complain but I know some of you guys on here see more deer on one sit than I do all season. I have been hunting for 36 years and rarely ever see mature deer and I hunt multiple spots. I rarely if ever see any rut activity or chasing it is just plain ridiculous. I consider myself a good hunter and try and do all the right things but the deer are just not there. My biggest deer is probably 135 inches and no I do not shoot the first buck I see either. Sorry for the rant but I am just discouraged about the deer sightings for years now. Not all parts of the state have suitable land that would sustain a large deer herd. I am surrounded by literally by thousands of acres of woods and agriculture. Most is public land that receives hunting pressure. And yes I have tried hunting all day sits and getting waaaaay back where you would think no one would dream of hunting and still not much luck. |
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Post by boman on Nov 12, 2019 18:52:16 GMT -5
Good article but unless I missed it the writer failed to mention lack of access to hunting property as one of the reasons for a drop in hunting which I believe is a big one. access is not really a problem in Michigan. Look at a map of Michigan and you will see acres and acres of state and federal forests. UP is probably 1/3 to 1/2 govt. owned. I hunted up there (grouse) for almost 20 years with my dogs. All on public in Montmorencie and surrounding counties. Simple answer is change in values of our society and the values of the younger generations. Steve |
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Post by freedomhunter on Nov 12, 2019 19:15:40 GMT -5
I started out in Perry on public near derby. Taught me alot! One major thing I learned was to bust my backside to earn good private ground or I wasnt ever going to see a mature buck. Years later with alot of time, money and work put in I am blessed with some better areas without so much pressure. But would go back if I had to no problem.
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Post by SFC (R) B on Nov 12, 2019 20:13:13 GMT -5
I have a double sided perspective on this issue (not directly related to MI though). As you all know I am from Indy but didn't start hunting until I was in the Army and in my 30's. My wife is from the Mentone/Warsaw area so NC IN is where I have spent most of my time at home in the last 20 years. Through a fraternity brother I got access to a small farm (less than 200ac) and got to hunt there 4 years (including my son taking his first deer). Additionally, another fraternity brother's inlaws are from Stueben County and we had access to several farms through a group of families that had a sort of ad hoc club. In the last few years ALL of that access is gone due to leases (most of them from out of state). I love to hunt but the idea of even going half on a $2500 a year lease is just contrary to my wanting to be in the woods and put meat in the freezer idea of hunting. As a gun hunter there is no way I would take my kids hunting (and am leery myself) on public land in IN during gun season. The proximity to other folks with guns that i have no confidence in is a deal breaker. Unless I can find some way to gain access again hunting in IN for me looks very iffy.
On the other hand, living here in CO is a whole different ball of wax. The real problem here is narrowing down a piece of public you want to hunt and learning that area to the best of your availability. Distance makes this an issue too. The area I hunt is +-5 hours from my house so I am lucky to get up there a couple of times a year. From the mid summer scouting trip this year until hunting season our area got NO rain. As such all of the elk and deer had made an early trip down onto private......irrigated fields of alfalfa. Nothing to be done in that situation but enjoy the camping trip. We have pressure out here but that could mean you see someone half a mile away or that folks camped within that distance of you.
I really do think that would be hunters faced with access obstacles are easily discouraged. Remember, what seems reasonable to us as "already" hunters as far as time and resources spent to hunt may seem ridiculous to those who have yet to catch the fever.
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Post by medic22 on Nov 12, 2019 20:20:30 GMT -5
Well I know some people that quit hunting because of the lack of deer to hunt. I know some of you will say BS on this but it is true. I am a die hard bow hunter and I can attest that I have put in 108 hrs on stand this year and have not yet seen a mature buck let alone many deer But this really is no different than any other year. I have thought many times to just throw in the towel and quit hunting but I just love to be in the woods enjoying nature. I don't mean to complain but I know some of you guys on here see more deer on one sit than I do all season. I have been hunting for 36 years and rarely ever see mature deer and I hunt multiple spots. I rarely if ever see any rut activity or chasing it is just plain ridiculous. I consider myself a good hunter and try and do all the right things but the deer are just not there. My biggest deer is probably 135 inches and no I do not shoot the first buck I see either. Sorry for the rant but I am just discouraged about the deer sightings for years now. I get chastized for this a lot, hell, one guy told me I needed to learn how to hunt. My approach, I just figure out where the mayure bucks are bedding and I go there. I dont see mature bucks every year, but when I get on them, I am on them. 2017 I killed my buck 75 yards from his bed (though not mature). This year 172 yards but I basically watched him stand up from it. I had 2 other Mature buck encounters within 40 yards of their bed and my hunting partner has encountered 4 within 65 yards of their beds (and 2 of them multiple times). We do this in mornings and evenings. Were pretty agressive, and sometimes it works, sometimes we blow it. Anyway thats my best hunting advice, dont be scared to get close. I like the odds better than waiting. ETA, ive never killed a buck more than 150 yards from the nearest road |
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Post by chewbacca on Nov 13, 2019 9:01:47 GMT -5
First of all, there isn't just one thing that is causing a decline in hunters. I believe the two biggest issues are deer population and access to places to hunt. I have to admit if I was just starting to get into deer hunting I would have a hard time getting the addiction due to the fact that I have many sits where I don't see a thing. I started hunting in the early 90's when it was nothing to see a minimum of 10 deer on every sit. It was pretty easy to get addicted to hunting back then. Back in them days, even though there were a lot more hunters, it was a lot easier to obtain ground. I've found in recent years it is very, very hard to pick up new ground to hunt. About the only way to get anywhere to hunt these days is to either buy your own land or lease some land. It has become a rich mans game...and that is very unfortunate.
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Post by greghopper on Nov 13, 2019 9:35:12 GMT -5
First of all, there isn't just one thing that is causing a decline in hunters. I believe the two biggest issues are deer population and access to places to hunt. I have to admit if I was just starting to get into deer hunting I would have a hard time getting the addiction due to the fact that I have many sits where I don't see a thing. I started hunting in the early 90's when it was nothing to see a minimum of 10 deer on every sit. It was pretty easy to get addicted to hunting back then. Back in them days, even though there were a lot more hunters, it was a lot easier to obtain ground. I've found in recent years it is very, very hard to pick up new ground to hunt. About the only way to get anywhere to hunt these days is to either buy your own land or lease some land. It has become a rich mans game...and that is very unfortunate. The people that owns the land that folks are paying to hunt are the biggest players in the “has become a rich mans game” the greed starts at their feet IMO |
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Post by beagler85 on Nov 13, 2019 10:15:08 GMT -5
I know for several years it has been a concern and have read various articles in Field and Stream and Outdoor Life on the topic. I think there are more things to do for kids (I work with them daily and as a country we've seen a decline in sport participation too). Just more things for kids to do in general. Also, the amount of people that live in subdivisions vs a rural population has changed things.
With all of that said access I believe takes makes things more complicated. I can remember as a kid (I am in my early 30's) my dad being able to access land fairly easily plus the land we have behind our house. Today that is very very hard to do. I am fortunate with some acreage (about 50 that I only own 10 of) to hunt. Other than that I have no other spots for deer. The closest FWA is a good 30 minutes which is problematic with a work schedule and young kids.
I am fortunate with the habitat that surrounds me. I will see 10 doe a night. So tagging out in rifle season on doe is not an issue. Bow is way more difficult as I hunt mainly open ag areas. I have not killed a buck in a couple years. I enjoy other hunting as well especially pheasant but in NE Indiana there is almost 0 habitat for them.
Access will continue to be an issue as leasing begins to take over. It's tough and unfortunate. I've thought about leasing but like many hunters I struggle with the concept of Price vs Meat.....Just my take on it all.
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Post by jjas on Nov 13, 2019 11:33:32 GMT -5
As hunters continue to age, it's not a surprise to me that many are calling it a day.
Truth be told, it's gets harder every year to sit in the cold and I just don't have the drive to be out there as much as I once did. This from a guy who used to sit from dark to dark during the rut with a bow as well as just about every year on the opener of firearms season.
Last firearms opener, I sat from before first light to when I killed a buck @ roughly 4:30. If I hadn't been in a shooting house with a heater, I would have gotten down during the middle of the day and gone back to the house for a couple of hours. Would I have still killed that buck? Who knows, but I know I would have gotten down, as my dark to dark sits on a hang on or ladder stand are done.
That's for sure.
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Post by bill9068 on Nov 13, 2019 12:31:42 GMT -5
What part of the state? Public or private ground? I hunt Perry County. Mostly public but I have 33 acres of private that butts up next to tons of public. I have done everything I can think of on my 33 acres to try and improve deer hunting. I have a pond, 2 smaller water holes dug with a skidsteer, clover fields. hinge cut bedding areas and put up stands early and stay out. I just think the deer are so pressured in this county that they are different animals. Spooky as all get out and always on alert. Most mature deer on cameras are always at night. I am frazzled and question my hunting abilities more and more. I really do not know what else to do. I hunt the wind and always do a scent routine on every hunt. I have 60 Perry county acres and rarely see a mature deer during daylight. I also have a farm in vanderburgh county and kill a mature deer every year and see more than one mature buck. |
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Post by parkerbow on Nov 13, 2019 19:36:29 GMT -5
I hunt Perry County. Mostly public but I have 33 acres of private that butts up next to tons of public. I have done everything I can think of on my 33 acres to try and improve deer hunting. I have a pond, 2 smaller water holes dug with a skidsteer, clover fields. hinge cut bedding areas and put up stands early and stay out. I just think the deer are so pressured in this county that they are different animals. Spooky as all get out and always on alert. Most mature deer on cameras are always at night. I am frazzled and question my hunting abilities more and more. I really do not know what else to do. I hunt the wind and always do a scent routine on every hunt. I have 60 Perry county acres and rarely see a mature deer during daylight. I also have a farm in vanderburgh county and kill a mature deer every year and see more than one mature buck. Exactly, The deer in Perry county are different creatures I tell you. I have had does 100 yards away and then suddenly stop and get spooky like they know something is not right and turn around and go back the way they came without me moving a muscle. I have hunted with a friend one time on Private land in a different county and those deer could have cared less, I could climb down the tree and walk across a field and the deer would just look at me and not even run off. No wonder he kills a good buck most years. He had a buck look up at him while he stood up pulled his bow back and he shot him. Pressured deer and non-pressured deer are 2 totally different animals. I just get so frustrated with the amount of time and effort I put in and can never see a mature deer let alone kill one after 36 years of hunting, Then some guys kill one every year and do not even put any effort in to it. Or a kid or wife will go out and the first deer they kill is a book buck. In all my years hunting and time I put in I can honestly say I have never seen a 150 inch deer while hunting. I just dont get it. |
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