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Message
Do We Really Need More Hunters?
Posted on 9/1/23 at 4:17 pm
Posted on 9/1/23 at 4:17 pm
Listened to an interesting podcast (The HUNTR Podcast)that spoke about how the quality of a public land hunting experience has decreased over the last decade based on the number of hunters on the ground.
They also spoke about the loss of between 6-8% of habitat over the last 30 years because of suburban sprawl.
Also discussed the role social media and outdoor television has played in driving up the cost of hunting land, as well as why do conservation organizations concentrate on creating new hunters instead of helping those of us already spending money to hunt.
I must admit when I started listening to the podcast I thought they were crazy. But about halfway through it I was starting to see and understand their points.
They also spoke about the loss of between 6-8% of habitat over the last 30 years because of suburban sprawl.
Also discussed the role social media and outdoor television has played in driving up the cost of hunting land, as well as why do conservation organizations concentrate on creating new hunters instead of helping those of us already spending money to hunt.
I must admit when I started listening to the podcast I thought they were crazy. But about halfway through it I was starting to see and understand their points.
12
Posted on 9/1/23 at 4:22 pm to geauxbrown
I’ve heard Rinella make that argument, on his hunting podcast that promotes his hunting show and advertises his hunting products. Baws just want all the land to themselves.
Posted on 9/1/23 at 4:25 pm to geauxbrown
There’s strength in numbers so I think our rights are more protected with more hunters but states need to increase the public land access to match the popularity
Posted on 9/1/23 at 4:35 pm to geauxbrown
It seems counterproductive, but if we want to make sure that we have animals to hunt and places to hunt, we need conservationists… and a big part of that is making sure more people will fight for hunting rights.
A number of factors have increased interest in hunting, including social media and YouTube… but I’m willing to bet that the majority of folks who can afford high priced hunting land, aren’t the same people getting hyped up by Facebook and YouTube hunting channels.
Just like gun ownership, I think the more people we have on our side, especially people that learn to hunt respectfully, the better off we will be.
Sure, it sucks seeing a truck every 1/4 mile when I’m turkey hunting in Kisatchie, but if you’re really determined, all the lazy hunters will give up rather quickly.
A number of factors have increased interest in hunting, including social media and YouTube… but I’m willing to bet that the majority of folks who can afford high priced hunting land, aren’t the same people getting hyped up by Facebook and YouTube hunting channels.
Just like gun ownership, I think the more people we have on our side, especially people that learn to hunt respectfully, the better off we will be.
Sure, it sucks seeing a truck every 1/4 mile when I’m turkey hunting in Kisatchie, but if you’re really determined, all the lazy hunters will give up rather quickly.
Posted on 9/1/23 at 4:37 pm to Jack Daniel
quote:
increase the public land access
Is there much public land that doesn't allow hunting?
National Parks?
Posted on 9/1/23 at 4:56 pm to Turnblad85
There’s a good bit of public land in other states that is land locked by private, so although it’s available, there’s no way to actually access it.
Posted on 9/1/23 at 5:04 pm to geauxbrown
The fact that there are actually “hunting podcasts” is a big part of the problem IMO.
I think there are plenty of hunters. You can’t pass any pipeline, high line, or opening on hardly any road without seeing a box stand. You never saw that 20 years ago.
I think there are plenty of hunters. You can’t pass any pipeline, high line, or opening on hardly any road without seeing a box stand. You never saw that 20 years ago.
Posted on 9/1/23 at 5:08 pm to REB BEER
Generally speaking I thought hunter numbers are declining? I think part of the problem is private land hunting is likely down as there are fewer and fewer mid sized farms and more and more 20 and 40 acre tracts where no one hunts, urban sprawl, etc.
Posted on 9/1/23 at 5:33 pm to REB BEER
What are you talking about? I don’t understand why you think seeing deer stands while you’re driving down the road is a bad thing. They’re on private land… unless you’re an outlaw, you shouldn’t be bothered.
And you’re mistaken if you think that deer stands on high lines/right of ways showed up in the last 20 years.
And you’re mistaken if you think that deer stands on high lines/right of ways showed up in the last 20 years.
Posted on 9/1/23 at 5:47 pm to geauxbrown
quote:
Since 1960, the actual number of hunters has increased until peaking at 16.7 million in 1982, after which it began to decline. The numbers started to climb again after 2010 but remain well below the 1982 peak. In 2020 there were 15.2 million hunters in the U.S.
In relative numbers, the percentage of the U.S. population that hunts has been on a steady decline since at least 1960, when there were 14 million hunters, representing 7.7 percent of the total U.S. population of 180.7 million people. In 2020, hunters represented only 4.6 percent of the U.S. population. Even at the 1982 peak, hunters only represented 7.2 percent of the U.S. population.
Total hunters are on the decline. Anyone hunting public land knows that hunters on public land have increased even though overall numbers are down. Myriad of reasons in my view, some already listed include loss of public land access, price of private land, reluctance of private owners allowing hunting due to perceived risk and forestry practices. Diminishing numbers of hunters isn't the answer though since hunters fund conservation through license sales and donations.
Posted on 9/1/23 at 5:56 pm to geauxbrown
In my lifetime, access to Western public land has greatly decreased. A whole bunch more people live in the West now than just a few years ago.
Posted on 9/1/23 at 6:00 pm to LSUengr
quote:
Total hunters are on the decline. Anyone hunting public land knows that hunters on public land have increased even though overall numbers are down. Myriad of reasons in my view, some already listed include loss of public land access, price of private land, reluctance of private owners allowing hunting due to perceived risk and forestry practices. Diminishing numbers of hunters isn't the answer though since hunters fund conservation through license sales and donations.
Well said. We also have hi resolution mapping at our fingertips, making it easier for people to find and hunt public land, so that’s part of the reason as well.
Posted on 9/1/23 at 6:21 pm to Taxman2010
Yea, let’s stop recruiting hunters. That way there will be less votes to keep guns and hunting rights.
Posted on 9/1/23 at 6:46 pm to Outdoorreb
quote:
Yea, let’s stop recruiting hunters….
I’m only playing devils advocate here…
First, hunting has never been guaranteed by the Constitution as I’m sure everyone is aware. I once heard Chief Justice Scalia speak and he urged us to understand that individual states needed to take steps to ensure the rights of hunters. I believe several states have now passed legislation protecting our rights to hunt.
I believe when these folks who advocate not recruiting new hunters speak, they’re referring to “new” hunters. People with no tie to hunting. No family or close friends to teach them, to take them. Studies have already indicated that we can’t create hunters through field days, youth days, JAKES Hunts and other special events aimed at attracting people to our ranks. Without the presence of a long term mentor, it just doesn’t work.
So, with that said, I don’t believe they have an issue with passing our hunting tradition down to our children, grandchildren and family.
One of the more interesting parts of the podcast was a discussion about why companies such as Realtree, Mossy Oak and firearms manufacturers along with conservation groups don’t work together to purchase or lease private ground in order to create more quality opportunities.
This post was edited on 9/1/23 at 6:47 pm
Posted on 9/1/23 at 7:06 pm to Taxman2010
quote:
Baws just want all the land to themselves.
Who doesn't?
Posted on 9/1/23 at 8:07 pm to Theduckhunter
quote:
ublic land in other states that is land locked by private
But that land is being hunted by the ( very lucky
) surrounding landowners I have to assume. So someone is hunting it but probably not in the numbers if it were public accessible. Wonder if in a 100 years hunting will be like that of old England where only the noble elites had plots of land with game enough to hunt.
Posted on 9/1/23 at 8:44 pm to geauxbrown
quote:
why companies such as Realtree, Mossy Oak and firearms manufacturers along with conservation groudn’t work together to purchase or lease private ground in order to create more quality opportunities.
Because that costs money, and it doesnt check any ESG box while doing it. Shareholders don't like that.
Advocating for more hunters means more customers for those companies. Simple as that. People quit hunting and realtrees gonna have to find something else to do.
Personally I think there's too many hunters for the resources we have left. It's expensive to hunt anywhere but your home state anymore and basically everything out west is limited opportunity.
We'd all like for everyone to support the cause but do it from their couch and let us have all the actual hunting to ourselves
Posted on 9/1/23 at 9:16 pm to geauxbrown
Really, the ideal situation is to have more hunters and more accessible hunting land. As it is now, land is either privatized and inaccessible or being gobbled up by suburbia.
Like myself. I did not grow up a Hunter bc my dad only liked to fish. So as an adult it is a hard activity to break into. I can buy the guns and the gear and watch YouTube etc. but actually going hunting? shite on it.
I took my son on a quick hog hunt just to try it out at a ranch near Seguin. All told it cost about $600 and that’s not even the price of processing the meat. I hear about how hogs are overrunning everything but nobody is inviting me to shoot them and I can’t afford to pay $1 per pound.
Like myself. I did not grow up a Hunter bc my dad only liked to fish. So as an adult it is a hard activity to break into. I can buy the guns and the gear and watch YouTube etc. but actually going hunting? shite on it.
I took my son on a quick hog hunt just to try it out at a ranch near Seguin. All told it cost about $600 and that’s not even the price of processing the meat. I hear about how hogs are overrunning everything but nobody is inviting me to shoot them and I can’t afford to pay $1 per pound.
This post was edited on 9/1/23 at 9:18 pm
Posted on 9/1/23 at 9:33 pm to biglego
quote:
I hear about how hogs are overrunning everything but nobody is inviting me to shoot them
Yea, prime example of the "problem" with hunters. Those who have do not want to share, and those who have not want the ones who have to share.
The reality is we all hate each other. To quote our favorite wildlife entrepreneur, there's two kinds of fishermen in this world. The guys I'm fishing with, and a buncha other assholes. Applies to hunters as well.
Posted on 9/1/23 at 9:44 pm to Turnblad85
quote:
Wonder if in a 100 years hunting will be like that of old England where only the noble elites had plots of land with game enough to hunt.
Maybe eventually. This country is huge but we have less and less unmolested land each year. Its gonna run out eventually.
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