This weekend’s full moon is called a “hunter’s moon,” signifying the first full moon after the harvest moon. With the fields harvested and deer fattened, it’s time to hunt, or is it?
There’s growing concern of late about a lack of hunters. USA Today reported that from a peak of 19 million hunters in 1975 that number is now at 12.5 million. The reduced number of hunters means less money from license fees.
The revenues are significant, as fees and taxes on hunting goods add up significantly. Many states see annual fees in the tens of millions of dollars. To stem the reduction in fees, states are altering hunting laws to actively recruit young hunters.
Licensing fees are typically applied to wildlife management, conservation and open space purchase. I’ve never hunted, but do see hunting as a necessary element of wildlife conservation that needs to be closely managed for sustainability. In a growing urbanized population, we’re moving further away from wildlife and outdoor activities. I enjoy parks and natural areas, and like to see a diversity of uses that connect coming generations with nature.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
What you leave out is, private organzitions like Ducks Unlimited are fighting those trends. Frankly, changing of laws won’t do much good. And people really need to stop looking to govt for the answers or solutions. People need to step up to the plate themselves instead of looking to others(govt).
The best course of action is people helping people. Like older hunters making sure they teach and inform younger generations about hunting. And better yet, be willing to take the time and take young people out in the field.
Anymore, the competition of ones time is growing. If given the choice, would a kid rather spend a Sat sitting in a cold deer stand or duck blind compared to a warm room playing video games or surfing the net? On top of that, with the vast majority of the population in urban or suburban environments. There is a dis-connect of people from the land. For example, no need to hunt or fish, just go the local grocery store or resturant for the fish or deer.
I would suggest checking out Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and a few others. And see what they are doing to help buck the trend. For example, DU has a Greenwings program, which is basically a outreach to people under 18. My son is a lifetime Greenwing(it will change to regular membership after 18). Even though he’s only 5. He has already been hunting a few times and fishing.
That’s where to start, with the young ones, not worrying about altering laws.
KoS
Yep, KoS has it mostly on the head. The problem is just getting kids out to WANT to hunt. My two seem to be interested in it.. the sight of a dead animal does not phase them as well. So I will start small and work them up into wanting to hunt.
Heck.. where I grewup, the school had the opening day of “Big Game” as a no school day.
Another problem is WHERE to hunt. Use to be you had a lot of options for hunting.. but anymore, private land is more and more being closed off to hunters as land owners have decided not to allow hunting. So, you are limited in some regards to state or federal parks for hunting. Then you have to worry about some arse shooting in your direction without looking first.
Chad…as for closed off private land. Check out TRCP they are trying to expand their open lands project nation wide. Basically pay landowners to open their land to hunting and fishing. Supposedly the program has been a susccess in the states which have instituted said program.
My only problem is, why have taxpayers fund it. Have wealthy donors fund it. I know there is money floating around. I know DU and TNC had two seperate funding raising events(5 year campaigns) and they both raised over 1 billion each.
KoS