Take an adult hunting

[Elmo]

http://themeateater.com/2012/take-a-kid-huntingor-better-yet-take-a-parent/

Interesting article and a real compelling argument.

To sum it up, the effectiveness of youth hunts is that for kids with parents who don't hunt, their interest will eventually disappear because the parents won't consistently take them out into the field and kids with parents who are already passionate was going to introduce their kids to hunting with or without a youth hunt anyway. But if a newbie parents are hooked, then their kids will very likely get hooked as well so it's twice the impact.

[Doc]

There is another new look at the problem of declines in the ranks of hunters. Everything seems to have to do with mentoring, whether it is involving youths or adults. And I do agree that when you get an adult involved, you have an excellent chance of getting a two-fer out of it. I can't say that I have directly been involved in bringing adults into hunting, although perhaps some have been drawn in because of conversations that I have been involved with. But I have to admit that I seldom have considered spending the effort on an adult. Generally when we think of bringing in new people, the goal always involves kids.

However, given the thought of expanding the scope of mentoring to include adults as well as youths, one has to wonder why Fish and Game clubs, and other conservation and outdoor organizations have dropped the ball on all this organized mentoring. What great club projects such activities would make. Sure, such activity is great for indvidual hunters to take on, but just imagine how much more powerful and effective these kinds of recruitment activities would be with the enthusiasm and numbers in existing organized clubs being focused on this effort. And maybe, they too shouldn't be ignoring adults to the extent that they do when it comes to recruitment.

[Nomad]

Good thought. I have a job with lots of hunters amoung its work force. Each year new guys start hunting because of all the talk,photos and meals of deer meat.

Now I'm 53 I started in high school, then for a couple years stopped,when I started working full time that job too had lots of hunters so I jumped right back into it. Now if i did not already have the course and prior lic. I may never had joined them for a week end hunt that has not since ended, so I think there is something to getting youth started as when life,jobs,kids settle down its easy to jump back in .

[Elmo]

When I first started, just to get ready for my 1st hunt ever I had already spent upwards of $1000 on licences, gun, gear, gas, and tolls. This is with the fact that I already have a lot of camping gear that I can take with me (flash light, first aid kit, compass, etc). Along with the use of a vehicle and not having to ask my parents for permission. There is no way a child with parents who are not into hunting would be able to do what I did.

[defrazzle]

http://themeateater....-take-a-parent/

Interesting article and a real compelling argument.

To sum it up, the effectiveness of youth hunts is that for kids with parents who don't hunt, their interest will eventually disappear because the parents won't consistently take them out into the field and kids with parents who are already passionate was going to introduce their kids to hunting with or without a youth hunt anyway. But if a newbie parents are hooked, then their kids will very likely get hooked as well so it's twice the impact.

I agree with Elmo totally. Starting with the earliest humans, all men were hunters. Moving through the ages and evolution, men have become more domesticated and the "hunting instinct" is slowly being replaced by "bringing home the days catch" by stopping in at the local neutered food outlets. i.e. BK, McD and the various A&P look alike stores. My, how we have changed.

I am willing and able to mentor anyone into the fraternity of hunters. :hunter:I just don't see them lining up or asking...so how can I. What do you all suggest? Ad in the paper? Scrolling banner on the cable TV community channel? I am open for suggestions.

[sweet old bill]

well when I had the bow shop each year I was working to get several new archers in the sport of ours. Now last year with the shop closed I still was able to get 3 new archers started. I see so many boys were it now the single mom trying to raise the child.I think the best thing that can occur is the archery in the schools program. It sure helps get both boys and girls started. some may hunt but all will have a understanding of the archery 3D / target sport of ours. I am sure some will then find there way into hunting.

[wdswtr]

http://themeateater....-take-a-parent/

Interesting article and a real compelling argument.

To sum it up, the effectiveness of youth hunts is that for kids with parents who don't hunt, their interest will eventually disappear because the parents won't consistently take them out into the field and kids with parents who are already passionate was going to introduce their kids to hunting with or without a youth hunt anyway.  But if a newbie parents are hooked, then their kids will very likely get hooked as well so it's twice the impact.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk

[shawnhu]

I agree with Elmo totally. Starting with the earliest humans, all men were hunters. Moving through the ages and evolution, men have become more domesticated and the "hunting instinct" is slowly being replaced by "bringing home the days catch" by stopping in at the local neutered food outlets. i.e. BK, McD and the various A&P look alike stores. My, how we have changed.

I am willing and able to mentor anyone into the fraternity of hunters. :hunter:I just don't see them lining up or asking...so how can I. What do you all suggest? Ad in the paper? Scrolling banner on the cable TV community channel? I am open for suggestions.

Take me take me!

[nyslowhand]

Sounds like a great opportunity for this forum to initiate something.

Could be as simple as mentors available w/hunting privileges.

Could even be mentoring on the beginner's property or a place he/she has rights to hunt.

All the right key words and a web search would be directed here.

Maybe a member that has influence at the NY Outdoor News (Buckstopshere?) could write an article.

I went through this a couple of years ago when I wanted to mentor a youth or young beginner.

Found a huge "black hole" between those wishing to mentor and individuals wanting to learn.

Nothing to connect the two!!

I have no connections to hunting organizations, the DEC or any outdoor publications.

Just willing to pass-on my hunting experiences and offer my services on a mentor available list.

See a lot of this mentoring on TV in other states. Who organizes these hunts &/or connections?

The outfitters, Wildlife agencies, Conservation groups, ......who?

[defrazzle]

Sounds like a great opportunity for this forum to initiate something........The outfitters, Wildlife agencies, Conservation groups, ......who?.....

The obstacles to overcome are:

1, The mentor and student must be relatively close to one another.

2. Should have a shooting range or large private unoccupied land available

3. Putting the student and mentor together

4. Getting the interested student to contact a mentor and reverse

5. Advertising/Marketing the Mentor Program

[wdswtr]

What the hell???? John Tapatalk is messed up still!!!! My phone was locked in my truck all day how did it log on here and send a quote reply on its own? Told you I hate tapatalk and this just another one to add to the dislike category for me now.

[sweet old bill]

well my bowclub in Manassas VA in the 80's use to have in Sept each year a sportman day, hotdogs for .25 cents and drinks were about the same at that time. We would post in the local paper, bring the wife, kids and the man of the house out to see different type of hunting sports, we even had the local police show off shooting with hand guns, black powder, and trap all were available the the location. The archery we had several kids bows, with wood arrows to show them they could become WIllaim Tell or Robin Hood. Also the compound were just starting to come out, so we had several of the club archers there to show off shooting skills and answer questions on the NFAA and also hunting with the bow. On the average we got about 30 new members of Cub Run (I Walton ) club.

We also use to have a sale of used equiptment that day.

The day started off with the South local arm unit with colors flying marching on to the rifle , hand gun range to shoot match against the local police, archers, each had 3 man teams. A taget was put on 4 x 4 plywood for the local police and Black powder. The archers had two bales of hay. All targets were clay birds hung on nails a total of 5 birds for each group at 20 yards. It was shoot as many times as you want in two minutes for each member of the team. The archers each year would win. But it was the fun. Then the black powder would have a special shooting of the total group, 35 men shooting off at one time to show the people what it was like in the civil war. The smoke would hang low. Then some of the great wing shots would show shooting of clay birds. It was a great day for all. But I guess with today laws, and sue happy public this could not be done.

[defrazzle]

Here's an idea!

Dicks SG's, Gander and Cabela's all sell equipment to hunters and anglers. They have a vested interest in ensuring that their customer base keeps growing and evolving. And my local Gander store already hosts hunter education workshops/classes. What better way to partner with one or all of these outlets to start a mentoring program? They already have the facilities and equipment what remains is the mentors capability and willingness to teach. The store can do the marketing and maintain a list of mentors. The pairing can be done by being at the hunter education class and a sign up list can be posted at all the sales counters. The store could offer a limited time 10-20% mentor program discount to participants and the mentor. This could be a self sustaining program if managed and promoted properly.

I plan to meet with our local store managers to see what they think. I think it will work as it is a win for the store - a win for the participant and a win for the mentor.

What do you think?

[defrazzle]

Can a 'MENTOR LIST' be maintained on this site? The list could contain, NAME, REGION LOCATION, CONTACT INFO, MENTORING SPECIALTY

[nyslowhand]

Not getting a lot of discussion or input on these ideas, are we?????

I'm going to send off this idea to the DEC and see if they have any thoughts or input.

[defrazzle]

Not getting a lot of discussion or input on these ideas, are we?????

I'm going to send off this idea to the DEC and see if they have any thoughts or input.

Good idea. I will start a fresh/new topic in another forum...then lets see if there are could be more responses. I am still going to contact Gander and Dicks in my home town of Plattsburgh, NY

[defrazzle]

I started a new "topic" and the replies are better......