The future of hunting

[Doc]

There was a disturbing article in Sunday's Canandaigua Daily Messenger regarding some pretty significant trends in the hunter population - http://www.mpnnow.com/article/20150926/SPORTS/150929700/2000/NEWS

 

The situation seems to be "hunters vs. anti-hunters", along with some social trends that don't bode well for the future of hunting, as well as wildlife management.

 

Anyway, Len Lisenbee outdoor writer for the Canandaigua Daily messenger says it all far better than I ever could, so check out what he has to say on the subject.

[Jeremy K]

No surprise ,look at the upcoming generations ,bunch of pretty boys who want nothing to do with hunting and fishing. Its more rare to see a young man or woman into the outdoors these days.

[steve863]

Hey, we are living in a society where cops are painted to be worse than rapists and murderers, how do you think they will look at us hunters who go out and shoot these poor defenseless animals?  I think hunting is here to stay for my lifetime at least, but 50 years down the road?  I don't think things will be looking too good.

 

 

 

[phade]

It's either hunting season, or close to it.

 

Why don't we just hunt? We've went round and round on this forum in the off-season already.

 

 

[Four Season Whitetail's]

Oh some hunting will always be here. To some extent.

[growalot]

Gosh not sure where you are but out here it is going strong with alot of young girl hunters hitting the woods every year..lots of girlfriends hunting....though it seems the DEC is doing it's best to discourge hunting...putting on a welcoming smile on one side and barriers on the other.

[growalot]

 

 I don't think things will be looking too good.

 

Just wait until the next big food scare...then you'll see the...... I want untainted meat groopies out in force...it's already happening  with more chefs taking up hunting and writing about it,,,TV shows featuring it. What trumps young ppls "moral  views"...The next big fad...and they go in cycles

Edited September 29, 2015 by growalot

[Jeremy K]

Take the super storm that washed everyone out of their houses in jersey a couple years ago ,people just stood in the streets helpless waiting for the government to come feed them.

[steve863]

Just wait until the next big food scare...then you'll see the...... I want untainted meat groopies out in force...it's already happening  with more chefs taking up hunting and writing about it,,,TV shows featuring it. What trumps young ppls "moral  views"...The next big fad...and they go in cycles

 

 

Really?  You think these meat only hunters would be given a free pass in killing wild animals?  I would hope that it DOESN'T become a fad.  That's a surefire way of completely decimating our wild game herds in my opinion.  If everyone hunted it wouldn't be long before nothing was left.

[gfdeputy2]

No surprise ,look at the upcoming generations ,bunch of pretty boys who want nothing to do with hunting and fishing. Its more rare to see a young man or woman into the outdoors these days.

 

funny thing I see here in NH is more & more young ladies filling up the hunter Ed classes & with hunting related stickers on their cars/trucks then I see with young men

 

[Doc]

I know the attitude today is that as long as hunting lasts as long as I do, the hell with anyone that comes after me. Unfortunately I can't adopt that attitude. Hunting, trapping and fishing has dominated my life, and forms quite a bit of what I am all about. I really do have an interest in what happens to hunting beyond me. And one of the first parts of solving problems is to admit that the problems exist. I think that was Lisenbee's purpose for writing the article. And that is what caught my attention and interest in it.

[phade]

I know the attitude today is that as long as hunting lasts as long as I do, the hell with anyone that comes after me. Unfortunately I can't adopt that attitude. Hunting, trapping and fishing has dominated my life, and forms quite a bit of what I am all about. I really do have an interest in what happens to hunting beyond me. And one of the first parts of solving problems is to admit that the problems exist. I think that was Lisenbee's purpose for writing the article. And that is what caught my attention and interest in it.

 

We interrupt this whinefest to bring you hunting season. Be back shortly, lol.

Edited September 29, 2015 by phade

[landtracdeerhunter]

I use to think hunters and their families were the key to keeping the sport alive. Maybe in big hunter states, this still lies true.  New York on the other hand, it's becoming more about the revenue generated.The big winner in this state are who donates money in campaign funds.  I could see hunting end in this state, if the  big money quit flowing in.

[NFA-ADK]

You wonder why this goes this way?  Just take one look at who is teaching your kids, 95% of them are against hunting and tell all how horrible it is to kill an animal then eat pork for lunch.  Most of todays society have no clue about land and animal management.  These are the same people who protest hunting, then fence in the garden and yard to keep out deer.

[Fantail]

Take the super storm that washed everyone out of their houses in jersey a couple years ago ,people just stood in the streets helpless waiting for the government to come feed them.

No suprise remembering Katrina.

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[BizCT]

Maybe instead of hunting animals, we will have a "purge" once a year like that movie. That would be fun to test your skills against other humans.

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[Fantail]

I'd like to think most here do their part. I mean getting the kids out or maybe spending time at a hunting/game club. But I think if you look at the way people get tied down with bill's or responsibilities it's easy to get lost in finding the time these days. For example my son would like to go hunting again, but new job, back to priority bills need to be paid.

Just saying I think there's people who want to but get tied down.

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[nyantler]

I'm of the belief that as long as hunting remains the single best wildlife conservation method, we will always have hunting. But, as hunter numbers diminish so does hunting as the best wildlife conservation method. I think society should be just as alarmed by how hunting is being attacked... without it there my be no way to keep up with population growths in the animal kingdom that doesn't involve the implementation of some kind of chemical Euthanasia. Which will certainly cause a problem in the food chain of all animals and seriously mess with the ecosystem. Hunting is way more important to mankind than anyone really knows.

[NFA-ADK]

Couldn't have said it better myself NY Antler!  And I have no more likes!  lol

[nyantler]

A man with a weapon is at the top of the food chain and for a reason. Our interruption and consumption of habitat has made it imperitive that we become the managers of wildlife. Being the greatest predator makes that possible.

[Adkhunter1590]

You wonder why this goes this way? Just take one look at who is teaching your kids, 95% of them are against hunting and tell all how horrible it is to kill an animal then eat pork for lunch. Most of todays society have no clue about land and animal management. These are the same people who protest hunting, then fence in the garden and yard to keep out deer.

This is completely true. But it's been a long time in the making. I still remember back in the 90s getting pulled from my 1st grade class because the teacher was so upset with my stories I told the class about hunting with my dad. The teacher called my parents in and told them she thought it was a terrible thing to teach a child to kill animals. My dad completely lost it in that meeting and demanded I be removed from her class. The principal was a avid hunter and agreed that she had no business telling me or the class it was wrong and happily removed me from her class and actually made her take a 2 week "vacation".

[Doc]

I'm of the belief that as long as hunting remains the single best wildlife conservation method, we will always have hunting. But, as hunter numbers diminish so does hunting as the best wildlife conservation method. I think society should be just as alarmed by how hunting is being attacked... without it there my be no way to keep up with population growths in the animal kingdom that doesn't involve the implementation of some kind of chemical Euthanasia. Which will certainly cause a problem in the food chain of all animals and seriously mess with the ecosystem. Hunting is way more important to mankind than anyone really knows.

It is interesting that today we have the DEC setting up what appears to be a panicked situation from their inability to control deer numbers in select WMU's. It could be that we are seeing the early evidence of hunting not being up to the task of controlling deer numbers. Unprecedented and frantic regulations are being put in place for the first time that I can remember, as the DEC admits that some WMUs are no longer able to control deer numbers simply by issuing more permits.

[Doc]

This is completely true. But it's been a long time in the making. I still remember back in the 90s getting pulled from my 1st grade class because the teacher was so upset with my stories I told the class about hunting with my dad. The teacher called my parents in and told them she thought it was a terrible thing to teach a child to kill animals. My dad completely lost it in that meeting and demanded I be removed from her class. The principal was a avid hunter and agreed that she had no business telling me or the class it was wrong and happily removed me from her class and actually made her take a 2 week "vacation".

Unfortunately, these animal rights wackos are having a long-term effect. We make light of their antics, but as this article points outs out they seem to be winning the hearts and minds of society. Their well-financed campaigns are perhaps having their intended effects, even on hunters.

[nyantler]

It is interesting that today we have the DEC setting up what appears to be a panicked situation from their inability to control deer numbers in select WMU's. It could be that we are seeing the early evidence of hunting not being up to the task of controlling deer numbers. Unprecedented and frantic regulations are being put in place for the first time that I can remember, as the DEC admits that some WMUs are no longer able to control deer numbers simply by issuing more permits.

I tend to agree... I'm not so sure they really spend that much time trying to figure out a solution. Most DEC decision makers and biologists are not even avid deer hunters. Much of their time is not even devoted to deer hunting, but to other conservation efforts. I know we all like to think that they spend all their time trying to figure the whole deer hunting thing out, but I've been to enough deer hunting forums and think tanks to know better. I have sat in meetings shaking my head at some of the things I've heard come from their mouths. Keeping their jobs in the public sector seems to always be the motivation... usually not much candid talk with a lot of walking on eggshells. Reminds me of a politician answering (or I should say not answering) a question, but saying what everyone in the room wants to hear. Even a loud mouth like me had trouble getting anyone to listen to ideas or even small considerations. I found it to be mostly political posturing than anything designed to solve real problems. They far behind the eight ball now with no real solutions... and the deer are winning.

[phade]

It is interesting that today we have the DEC setting up what appears to be a panicked situation from their inability to control deer numbers in select WMU's. It could be that we are seeing the early evidence of hunting not being up to the task of controlling deer numbers. Unprecedented and frantic regulations are being put in place for the first time that I can remember, as the DEC admits that some WMUs are no longer able to control deer numbers simply by issuing more permits.

 

#1 Their reasoning for this statement is ludicrous. #2. Taking that statement as gospel is equally as ludicrous.

 

Tell me again how issuing more permits isn't able to control the deer numbers? They know this how? Because there are leftovers? Please. Have they gone OTC? Have they moved the date for second chance drawings? Have they removed the need to force hunters to get consignments from OTHER hunters for two DMPs?

 

I have to beg, borrow, and steal to get 8H tags consigned. Why is this even prudent or necessary when even the DEC admits tags are left over? Why must we wait until November for second chance tags? They have a computer system that can tell in real-time what's left to dole out.

 

No, instead the DEC's brilliance is being consumed by the masses as gospel just because they say so.