soft expectations....

[bobcat]

It's really doesn't cost that much to buy hunting licenses for kids. It's $21.80 for deer or elk. That just doesn't seem like it should keep anybody from hunting if they want to. To apply for special permits is only $3.80.

[fishnfur]

Though the original point of the thread decries the reason for decreasing hunter numbers is the poor hunting experience/success, upon reading further, it is apparent that there are many, many good reasons why hunting in general is loosing participants.  All are valid reasons to those who posted them, and there are certainly many more that any of us could come up with.

The reality of the situation seems to be that the world is a very different place today than it was 15 or 30 years ago.  We all have many more interests competing for our time, and as mentioned previously, technological advances in television, gaming, and telecommunications work against many would-be hunters.  Also, loss of access to what used to be wide-open hunting grounds and/or the initiation of trespass fees by Big Timber only further limits recruitment of those who might become the next generation of participants in our chosen sport.  Finally, we can be our own worst enemies by setting very poor examples of "good sporting behavior", both in the field on online in forums such as this.  Tie all that in with a near doubling in the cost of fuel and nearly a decade of economic decline in the country, a general and widespread increase in obesity and loss of fitness in the general population, and it should surprise no one that fewer and fewer hunters are returning for a 25% chance of bagging a buck.  You can get way better odds at a craps table, and the drinks are free.

[boneaddict]

If the parents cant afford to go, then I'm betting that might sway the kids.  If its not the fees, then its life itself, gas for the tank etc.   How many opt to not buy a license but shoot something anyway.   Really, how accurate are those numbers?

Why do people hunt these days, that's another question???

Was posting this then FishnFur nailed it.   

[coachcw]

to sum it up there's to many sissies being raised by there moms and the younger generation of hunter arnt willing to work hard for a good experience .

[LeviD1]

to sum it up there's to many sissies being raised by there moms and the younger generation of hunter arnt willing to work hard for a good experience .

I agree with fishn. Haha but I also agree with this. Funny way to put it but I think its true to 

[hunt6226]

I agree with coach. not near enough dads willing to take the time and effort to take the kids out. easier to buy them computer games.

[pd]

This is interesting. I will have to re-read it. Question for the author: This was written in reference to what?  I seemed to have missed the first half of the show, any can't follow the storyline.

[tgomez]

I take my 8 year old all the time!! But the topic remindes me to "pass it down." The future of hunting depends on us sharing our knowlege with, and getting young kids intersted and involved in HUNTING. less hunters= higher tag prices.💰💵 MY SON=MY HUNTING BUDDY

[cbond3318]

I take my 8 year old all the time!! But the topic remindes me to "pass it down." The future of hunting depends on us sharing our knowlege with, and getting young kids intersted and involved in HUNTING. less hunters= higher tag prices.💰💵 MY SON=MY HUNTING BUDDY

  I cannot wait until my boys are tagging along. I just pray I have learned enough by then to shorten their learning curve.

Is it bad a  side of me gets a little excited to see a decline in interest? Obviously losing enough interest to impact my way of life would be terrible but I have met enough jacks in the outdoors to welcome some self culling trends.

[boneaddict]

That's the juxtaposition of hunting.  We all want to be alone on the mountain, but we want enough lobby that we won't lose our rights.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Could the decline in hunters also be due to price of tags, less youth hunters, etc.....  Your assessment seems a little one sided and centered around quality of hunt.  Though I don't disagree that quality of hunt may be a part of it....I don't agree it is all of it. 

Price of tags, less public land (private timber pay to play), less youth hunting, gated roads, ect. ect. ect.....all play a role in smaller total number of hunters.   

I believe that there are other factors to the decline of hunting/hunters.  Generational changes are in effect. Too many 'greenies and tree huggers'. Vegitarianism and the like. Heaven forbid if your son or daughter in the city mentions hunting with a 'GUN' at school! They'd be counseled and expelled! OMG lets save the Spotted Owl, so we'll close these roads and limit access year round. Or charge for access during hunting seasons. Logging reductions in various areas have in ways, had effect on forage. Reduction of predator hunting with hounds, has likely lead to more fawn kill. -Quite possibly decreasing the 'good hunter experience' you mention. But I don't think its all down to not forcing 'Draw Only' hunting privileges.  If I lived in a state that was draw only, I'd move.   

-Steve

[Chesapeake]

I think I can speak to some of this, as I'm a hunter, with 2 boys (8 and 10) coming up into the ranks.

Hunters Ed was a crazy pain in the you know what. It actually took almost a year to get it done. There are not many classes, they book up fast, and they are a few hours for 4 or 5 week nights and then a Saturday or Sunday field test. Seems easy enough till you cant find a class within a 40 minute drive, they start about the time you get off work, and there is no way to get the kid from after school care, get them fed, to the class, then get homework done, and to bed before 10 pm. I had to take an hour vacation each day for a week, eat fast food on the way to class, and have the kid do homework on the drive home after the class ended at 8pm.

We got it done, and you can bet I'll do the same for the next one when he's 9, but it took some commitment and a flexible work schedule to get it done.

Then we have the "youth" tags. There isn't anything interesting there for a 10 year old boy. They don't want to shoot does, they want bucks they can tell their friends about. The only buck tags they get are for forkeys in a 3 point unit.

Then we have the seasons and school. I cant take my kid out of school much. They can only miss so many days. The seasons are so short they get a few weekend days for elk, and a few weekend days for deer. So they get to spend 6 or 8 days in the field and their lucky to see some legal animals to even keep their interest.

It sure makes it stressful on me. Its hard enough in this state just to find yourself a legal deer and legal elk to shoot at. Its exponentially harder to try and find a young kid a bull or buck. So then your trying to keep them interested in all the critters and sights and sounds, the "entire experience" that they wont understand for another 20 years or so. Meanwhile your stressing cause your supposed the be the "DAD" and you cant even find your kid a legal buck to shoot.

I don't know what I'll do in 2 years when I have two little hunters to try and help.

I can understand why folks give it up and don't bring their kids into it. Success rates below 20% and overcrowded woods make it no fun. What's the guy that only gets an elk every 4 or 5 years supposed to do with a kid on his hip? I get an elk almost every year and I don't have a clue. I'm hoping like heck the kid draws a decent tag he has a decent chance to fill. I'm not sure we stand a chance at getting him an elk during the regular season.

   

[JackOfAllTrades]

I'll agree that it is a bit more difficult to bring kids to hunt camp than it was when I was younger. I have two sons approaching 21 and 23. Their first deer harvests were doe's.  I mandated first takes to be with iron sights within 100yds. After that, they got scopes. Hunter-Ed wasn't too bad, as long as the parent keeps up on offerings and is prompt for sign-up. Done in a week! Hunting seasons, allowed for the first weekend trip plus one day, then a quick run home to get them back in school. Another quick run home to get them for the second weekend. Incentive for both, (only achieved by one), was to hold straight A's, and get to take one week off school to hunt. But he made arrangements with his teachers and brought his homework with him. Hunt a good day, and while I made dinner, he'd hit the books. No Rummy, (that kid kicked my tail!), No Fire, until the homework was done. Thank goodness they didn't play Football. There would have likely been NO hunting in the fall. They played Baseball and Soccer for school and private teams. Coaches Do Not like missing players during season! (Plus I paid dearly for them to be on private league/teams.) We felt it was important for them to play team sports. Interaction with other kids/people has them well rounded for the career world where everything isn't perfect.  Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. Did my parents think of/do this as much with me? Nope.  Now that the boys are finished/almost finished with vocational school, One starting a new career, One working nearly full time while attending school, it is difficult for them to get the time off for a lengthy stretch to hunt. I only had the eldest for three days in hunt camp last season. He got his first buck! Many of these challenges have lead the youngest to be a very accomplished Waterfowl hunter locally. Load the gear, and inside an hour, he's in the blind. He's found his niche.  Times are changing, and if we as parents don't recognize the need for higher education, that brings along the impacts to scheduling and learning to hunt at a younger age, are sourly mistaken that career opportunities for C+ average high school grads are just hanging off trees.

The key is, to be smart as a parent. Plan, adjust. Make it happen at any age. Just getting them out there is the first step. Some take to it. Some don't. Make the experience a good one. Teach! Know that it's not all about the kill/harvest. Like Bone said, there are opportunities a plenty, even on public ground. If it was easy, EVERYONE would do it.

-Steve