Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Meateater

This 100%.
Hunting is dying. Look at the statistics. We need advocates and we can't be so picky as to chose the ones that line completely up with our personal "code". I'm afraid my son will have a hard time finding hunting partners and making the memories and learning the life experiences that only nature can give whenever's I'm not around.
Hunting needs to remain a part of America's DNA. It's more important than most realize. Younger people aren't going to be inspired by Jack O'Conner or Aldo Leupold. Those guys don't have podcasts.

Complete horsesh!t. Maybe hunting is 'dying' in NoCal, but it ain't here.
I hear this more and more and see more and more hunters afield every year.

Find another talking point.

Right. Gun rights as in "you can have a shotgun." Just like Joe Biden.

Ok, just ignore the data. Go with what your own eyes tell you. I'm sure thats a more accurate approach. Throw in a little ad hominem for good measure. Well done.

Numbers do seem to reflect a decline since the late 80’s and early 90’s with peak lows around 2008-2015. However, it does appear that there has been a rebound in the last few years, if these numbers are accurate.

https://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/LicenseInfo/Hunting.htm

Hunting is dying? Ya....maybe along the east coast.

Call Colorado Parks and Wildlife or Wyoming Game and Fish and ask if their application number or license sold numbers are down.

Keep buying the schiit the fear mongers are shoveling.

No need. FWS does us the solid of making this information public every year. Both states have downward trends since 2000. This list reflects total hunting licenses sold in the state in that year.

From the link:

———— Colorado — Wyoming

2000 — 337,475 — 147,416
2005 — 309,801 — 137,677
2010 — 294,186 — 149,581
2015 — 281,201 — 133,568
2019 — 298,901 — 132,075



In 2019, Colorado sold 88.5% of what they sold in 2000 and Wyoming sold 89.5% of what they sold in 2000.

Are the quotas the same? Or have they been reduced in the same time period? And are they selling out?

Hunting is dying so I'm sure they've got piles of good tags lying around.

They're not the same where I hunt. I used to be able to draw my preferred tag with zero PPs, now I can't draw with 1 .PP.

There ya go ducksanddogs. Smearing back yard opinions with actual facts.

Colorado — Wyoming

2000 — 337,475 — 147,416
2005 — 309,801 — 137,677
2010 — 294,186 — 149,581
2015 — 281,201 — 133,568
2019 — 298,901 — 132,075

Pretty obvious to me.
Same story in much of midwest.

Pa., licenses are down.
They bragged some, that sales were up with a Saturday opening of deer season.
I like meateater.
He pulls some great tags, or has someone (?), pay big bucks, but his hunts are honest, and out to fill the tag with whatever presents the shot.
I'm not seeing many product plugs on his shows either.
I would like to know more about his rifle and scope choice tho.
I googled, but it didnt come up with a specific cartridge or scope.
I'm not up on Vortex optics, so I dont know what he's using.
He's a decent shot tho.

He used a custom (LH) early on. They were sponsored by Savage for some time but are now a Weatherby representative. They're tight now with Adam Weatherby and have made a few trips together. I think they still do Vortex and First Lite. Some of the podcasts have been very interesting.

As previously mentioned, sportsman often don’t tract the binary republican/democrat political system. Conservation and public access is often at odds with conservative idealism. But firearms, hunting and even fishing can be contrary to democratic ideals.

Just a note on hunter numbers. I believe there are more people are applying for multiple species and multiple states than ever before. I am exhibit No. 1. I used to do 1 trip per 3 years. Now it is 2 per year. Still one hunter, but now I have 6 applications over a 3 year period instead of 1.

The population of the US is climbing. As has been shown, hunter numbers are declining. So when you talk about percentage of the US population that hunts, the decline is magnified.

Another consideration is that the baby boomers will soon be leaving hunting en masse. Take a look at the numbers and you will see is that we do not have a generation that will replace those numbers any where near that level of participation. We are running towards the cliff. Judging hunter numbers by point creep or the number of orange vests you see on opening day is not an accurate representation of what is happening.

For the record, I enjoy Meateater and I really enjoy Fresh Tracks with Randy Newberg. The two best hunting shows out there in my opinion. I can certainly think of worse ambassadors for our hobby.

That's like choosing which STD is better.....

That's exactly what I'll do.
One can't travel 50 yards in this state without rubbing elbows with someone else, particularly non-residents.
The statistics shown by others here are RELATIVE.
After you find a new talking point, grow a pair. This stuff ain't personal, it's simple banter.

Re. the horsesh!t ....er 'data' ....part of your posting:
"According to data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Idaho hit a record-high number of paid hunting license holders in 2019: 295,281."
Read more here: https://www.idahostatesman.com/outdoors/hunting/article240430411.html#storylink=cpy

More people being pushed onto less land does not equal more hunters overall. It might mean more hunters including non-residents are hunting “your” areas but that doesn’t mean there’s an increase in hunters it merely hunters that once hunted elsewhere are hunting where you are.

I know that in Washington the saltwater fishing has taken a dump, steelhead fishing is a shadow of its former glory and our hunting areas are converted to parks and trails for “non-consumptive users”. It’s fun trying to get a flock of pintails to commit to your spread with Mr and Mrs Purple and Pink Northface having a birdwatching conversation 15 yards behind your blind. I’ve grown tired of wasting my time down here on many things so if the state wants to cater to those that don’t foot the bill then they won’t get my annual donation. I’ll get my shellfish license because it pays for itself in crab and razor clams but unless I have a specific trip planned I don’t buy my license. I’ll hunt elsewhere rather than with a bunch of people crammed into smaller and smaller spots

I get that.

Reread my original answer, my response was in relation to where I live.
"Hunting may be dying' in some places, but not here.

Idaho is being overrun with record numbers of hunters and right now we're legislatively trying to resolve it. Its a mess.
Some of us can't wait either. I literally have a bullet hole through the wall of my shop from some idiot this Fall.

How do you know?

Ok.
Let me refrase that.
His hunts "appear" hi honest.
Happy ??