Average hunter's age in NY

[bubba]

Got to offered in the high schools. Know plenty of teachers that would make the extra effort. Just have to get the ball rolling.

Teachers can do it if they volunteer. Instructors in NY can not be paid. That is what stopped the program in schools a few years ago. Plus bringing guns into a school now is a big old no no. One would think if these interested teachers were really interested, they would be doing so now, and not getting paid.

Edited July 24, 2012 by bubba

[A Sportsman]

As mentioned above, the way I see it, there are multiple reasons. Like Growalot said, a lot of it falls on our backs as hunters and parents. However, previous generations were not up against what we are. For instance, I don't think we even know yet the long term ramifications of the internet.

I'm 35, and I grew up on Long island. In my schools, hunting and fishing may as well not have existed. I'm not saying schools should necessarily devote time to these things, but as hunters, it would be foolish to think that the idea of hunting would be cultivated there. And its too bad. As a youngster, all I wanted to do was be outdoors with my dad. My dad was a hunter, which meant I wanted to be a hunter too. Simple as that. Its very upsetting to think about how this simple equation or parent/kid relationship is breaking down.

I've never thought access was much of a problem, because there is a lot of state land in NYS, but as NFA-ADK pointed out, access points are pretty limited. I hunt the central catskills. IN my experience, our problems lie more in getting deer out. Its one thing to huff it to deep area, but problems arise when you have to drag very long distances to skirt posted signs, instead of just getting the deer out to a road. Regardless, I don't think access is really a primary reason for poor recruitment.

[fasteddie]

When I was going to school , some of the schools had rifle clubs and teams competed with other schools . I doubt that would be allowed in these times ( but I don't know that for sure) .

[upstaterifle]

Does anyone know what the average age of subscribers on here is for this site?

[upstaterifle]

I personally believe that more definitely needs to be done. Not just with kids but with adults as well. There are enough techno distractions for us now, suggesting activities for us to do and things for us to by. Word of mouth and volunteering are always going to be the front line in getting more hunters out there in the woods, but sadly in today's world those are not enough.

Sites like huntingny are great and there is tons of information out there if you go looking for it. I think that is the main problem; awareness or the lack thereof for the current non hunter.

Most people these days need to be sold on something if they are gonna go for it. You see all these advertisements made to attract people to the Adirondacks for hiking, fishing, kayaking, rock climbing and a multitude of other outdoor activities.....but you never see anything promoting hunting except for some big hunt out west. It would be nice it see some mainstream info on hunting and the promotion of the seasons the way you see coverage on every other outdoor activity but hunting. I am sure there are folks in their 20's, 30's+ who take up things like kayaking and skiing or fly fishing now and as a continued life long passion. Many of them probably had a friend who introduced them to these activities, but I'm sure there are a good number who decided it was time to do it because they saw an advertisement for it. Why not have more mainstream media out there promoting it?

[Doc]

It's a lot different world than it was when I taught my kids how to hunt and fish and enjoy what nature has to offer us. Yes hunters have perhaps been dropping the ball, but I have seen the development of "mandatory" overtime, and people being wired up with contact at the office even when they were home. I have seen massive changes in recreation that now takes in some pretty sedentary activities involving the computer and communications devices. I've seen huge areas go from rural farming communities to large tracts of suburban development. I have watched people dragging kids out to go camping only to have the kids sit all day in the apartment-like camper playing computer games or exercising their thumbs with texting and such. It's difficult to completely blame the parents when the entire American lifestyle has been turned upside down. Hunting and fishing and trapping simply aren't cool anymore. And that's a situation that's going on around the country. The whole culture is geared to fast paced, modernism. There is no surprise anymore that hunter numbers are diminishing. Even adult hunters are abandoning the sport and taking with them any opportunity or interest in passing on a culture of hunting.

[Meat Hunter]

What ever happened to the "I Love New York" commercials where they would show hunting, fishing and lots of other outdoor activities?

You should send that to the Department of Tourism and to the Governor and ask that

[fasteddie]

Does anyone know what the average age of subscribers on here is for this site?

Many of the members don't post their age as you can see in the profiles . Also , many are probably ashamed of the town they are from as they post Upstate , Western NY , Area 59 , etc ..

[Meat Hunter]

Deer hunters are a dieing bred in NY- literally. The average is 52. In 1982 we had 900,000 Deer Hunters now we have 566,000. Now over 300, 000 are above 52 years old. That means we are going to lose 53% of our hunters in the next 10+ years. Not much of a voice left for hunting and the remaining hunters will not be able to control the deer population.

Hell yes we need a PR campaign which I have told the DEC and ………

They (DEC) put out a publication for youth about turkeys and the restoration via the conservationists. And I heard it went to all 4^th graders in the state. It was a several page magazine WHICH DID NOT MENTION HUNTING OR THAT HUNTERS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TURKEY RESTORATION AND THAT WE FUNDED THE WHOLE THING.

TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!

There should have at least been a paragraph about a kid that went turkey hunting and love it and a place where kids could learn more about turkey hunting and how to get started.

Doing nothing now is unacceptable; they have known since 1982 that we had a problem and nothing done…

[mike rossi]

The drop in hunters might be much steeper in the future... A number of those older hunters hunt small game. What happens with you guys in your 30's that dont hunt small game when you can't climb that tree, stand on a little platform, pull that bow, and drag out that deer? Going to become born-again small game hunters or just quit?

Edited July 30, 2012 by mike rossi

[greybeard]

Since I asked the question I have spoken to other hunters and also looked up some stats.

A few years ago the statistics showed that deer hunting licenses declined in 33 states . Massachusettes dropped by 50%.

Growing suburbs and lack of interest by young people seemed to be the reason. My friends agreed with the reasons some citing discussions in their own family.

I guess it's just the way it is...Times change

[Grizz1219]

Hopefully the youth deer hunt will get more kids out there and alter the average age down....

[GreeneHunter]

Dom, you talk like you are an old guy. when I was young I walked 10 miles to school one way in the winter with six feet of snow.

Uphill both ways no doubt ? heh heh heh

[Doc]

Since I asked the question I have spoken to other hunters and also looked up some stats.

A few years ago the statistics showed that deer hunting licenses declined in 33 states . Massachusettes dropped by 50%.

Growing suburbs and lack of interest by young people seemed to be the reason. My friends agreed with the reasons some citing discussions in their own family.

I guess it's just the way it is...Times change

We talk a lot about youth recruitment, and that is a big part of it all along with problems of getting kids into outdoor activities of all sorts. However, no one ever quotes stats on how fast adults are dropping out as well. I do know people who at one time were die-hard hunters that simply stopped hunting ...... permanently. And these are not old guys who physically couldn't do it anymore. these are guys in the 30's and 40's. You know what's really bad about losing middle aged people is that we are talking about the parents that would be the ones influencing their kids. So we not only lose them but their kids as well.

So my question is, has anyone seen any stats about those that desert hunting after they have been in it for a while? And another question would be what are some of the reasons for adult hunters leaving the sport.

I think the problem is a whole lot bigger than just the fact that we can't get kids interested anymore. It appears that we not only have to get kids involved with hunting, but also have to worry about figuring out how to keep them there too. I wonder if the DEC has even looked into this aspect of the problem?

[shawnhu]

To be honest, it's very hard to blame TV, computers, and other electronic devices, when you, the parent should be the one setting the example for your kids. It's one thing when your kids don't share the same interests that you have, but you as a parent can defiantely stop the electronic non-sense that most parents fall back on when they have bad parenting skills.

And as far as the next generation of hunters, I know plenty. I'm 32, and I'm getting more and more of my friend's into hunting every month. I'm doing my part as best I can, but this is only my second year hunting. So let me ask you folks complaining about the dying breed of hunters, how many of you have gone out and showed someone the ropes and secrets to make hunting more enjoyable? Every bit counts, and helps. It really is the hunters that are letting this great tradition and past-time die.

Shoot safe.

[growalot]

When we moved out here I had a young 20+ year old gal who's Family owned the Pet store I worked in where we use to live...crazy animal lovers...I brought her on a hunt and she then went and got a license..She hunted here at our home and then down at the camp....when she got married my wedding gift to her was a new Mossberg 20ga shot gun

Mr.b. refuses to have any thing to do with bow hunting...so when I taught my self and got my license...I got both our daughter and son involved...They took their bow course and hunted ....then took the gun course and still hunt....If grand kids come along...they'll be in the woods with me from the get go.....

[Elmo]

I've gotten my older brother, my niece, and my fiance to take the hunters ed class already. I bought my niece a recurve bow and take her shooting whenever I can. My fiance has accompanied me on a couple of hunts. My brother won't allow me to take my niece hunting until she's older. I can't argue. I may be the uncle but I'm not the father. A friend of mine (who I took hunting with me a few times) and his wife have already scheduled to take the hunters ed class in a couple of weeks. While none of them have actually taken up hunting themselves, I have done my part in sowing the seeds. Whether they grow or not, only time will tell.

Like shawnhu said, you don't need children to pass down this tradition.

[mike rossi]

With the size of the human population its a good thing everybody doesnt hunt. Never the less our voice is getting smaller and so is our financial contribution to conservation. As a result, besides hunter recruitment/retention efforts, wildlife agencies will seek non hunters to finance conservation. Anti hunters are aware of this and they are perched like vultures...

If you want your kids to hunt, you have to be a strong parent. If you give junior a choice between football or hunting with dear old dad, the school function is going to win out... In some schools I am told a kid is punished if he talks about hunting. My age is 46 and when I was in 5th grade, a teacher took three of us small game hunting. When I was in college the dorm had a game cleaning room and a game freezer. Sadly that is not how it is anymore.

Another point: the only group that it is still acceptable to negativly stereotype is hunters. (well, maybe lawyers too) The Elmer Fudd character has reached more kids than the Bambi movie. I find that interesting...