Hunting as a sport declining

[MoCarp]

https://www.outdoorlife.com/why-we-are-losing-hunters-and-how-to-fix-it/

[MoCarp]

https://www.npr.org/2018/03/20/593001800/decline-in-hunters-threatens-how-u-s-pays-for-conservation

[MoCarp]

https://www.pressherald.com/2018/10/15/warning-about-chronic-wasting-disease-stokes-fears-of-hunting-decline/

[fishinwrench]

Deminished gun rights and gun hysteria are one reason.

Land access is another.  

The authorities are always bitchin that so many are breaking laws while doing it, so why do they wish even more people were out there?   Makes no sense.  On one hand they are worried about too many animals getting killed....and on the other hand they claim to want more people out there killing animals.   Make up your freakin' mind !

[Bigfishes1]

Putting a dollar value on big antlers has ruined deer hunting. Outdoor television has ruined deer-hunting. Outfitting whitetail deer hunts has ruined deer hunting hunting. Twisted herd management (my deer mindset) has ruined deer hunting. 

[tjm]

8 hours ago, Bigfishes1 said:

Putting a dollar value on big antlers has ruined deer hunting. Outdoor television has ruined deer-hunting. Outfitting whitetail deer hunts has ruined deer hunting hunting. Twisted herd management (my deer mindset) has ruined deer hunting. 

Kinda describe fishing too. I've noticed far fewer young anglers on the creeks for several years now.  Land access,  fear of trespassers ( I was 10 or 11 the first time I ever saw a no trespassing sign in the country), my-ness- land, water, deer, fish, air, etc.- and  anthropomorphizing all play a part, but so does the whole electrification of America. Electricity has provided with heat in winter and cool in summer and artificial entertainment 24-7-365, we can keep ready to eat food and cool drinks at all times and for unlimited times. The youngins never get bored enough to go outside in the uncomfortable atmosphere.  

[bfishn]

Duck Dynasty Disillusionment

[oneshot]

I enjoy going hunting if its for Squirrel or Deer. I remember hunting back before there was Deer and Turkey around had plenty Rabbits and Quail and always had a good time.

I hunt for meat and I’m good with 3 for the year.

oneshot

[Flysmallie]

13 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Land access is another.  

 

I think this is the biggest issue. I loved to hunt when I was younger and had thousands of acres available to me. After we moved to Missouri and those spots were no longer available I quit. 

[Devan S.]

2 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

I think this is the biggest issue. I loved to hunt when I was younger and had thousands of acres available to me. After we moved to Missouri and those spots were no longer available I quit. 

To a point, as a country the population centers provide better jobs and opportunities to earn a living for the working class America. Thus working adults with younger kids move to these areas to better provide for their families. I don't know of many kids even in the small SWMO towns that can get outdoors and enjoy much more than a back yard on their own until they are really able to drive. These kids are forced(more or less) to be a product of their environment which are things like school sponsored events, YMCA, local pools, parks, and/or the virtual world. Times have changed. 

I grew up in rural America and had the same situation; at 13 I was driving dad's truck down the dirt road to neighbors farms to hunt or across the pasture to the pond. That's something that the overwhelming majority of kids don't have the opportunity to do. During my formative years it wasn't about shooting monster bucks, catching huge bass, beard draggers, or limits of fish. It was about going out with my friends or dad and fishing small farm ponds for bluegill, shooting bull frogs, swimming in the creek or pond. It was about the memories and experiences not the trophy.

Now if your an adult you either have someone introduce you and teach you the ropes(but your an adult now and everyone is busy) or you learn from what you see on TV. The problem is the TV isn't realistic to the average person. They push an all in lifestyle that costs a ton of money for just the gear without even considering access. Then even when you have access or are afforded access the reality is that not everyone is shooting 160+ class bucks but the TV, which you learned/introduced from, is pushing that narrative time and time again.