[shane256]

I posted on another board about hunting and got a few interesting responses. One of the responses was really interesting to me. A poster posted that he has never been hunting but would like to try and this:

The reality seems to be that unless your father took you hunting as a child, chances are you never will. It's especially odd for me as someone who has gotten into firearms as an interest, when that community tends to be dominated by people with a background in hunting.

It's interesting hearing hunters talk about how interest in the activity seems to be dying out, but there doesn't seem to be any opportunities to bring adults in. They seem to focus mostly on youth programs, but the problem is most of those kids are the children of hunters and were probably going to get into it anyways. There doesn't seem to be any avenue for bringing in people, of any age, whose family background doesn't already make them likely hunters.

Do any of you know of programs that do that? If not, do you think it'd be worth my time to forward that response to some organization(s)? If so, which ones?

On that other board (it's a tech site, not hunting) I've posted numerous times that I was willing to take people hunting if they wanted. I haven't had anybody take me up on it yet. A part of the problem is that non-resident licenses are expensive (forums deal with people all over the USA and even world).

 

[shane256]

More discussion with that poster... all very good points and discussion, IMO. If you don't know anyone who hunts who can help you start out, it's very difficult to get started.

I wouldn't even know how to get started.

For starters none of my firearms are even legal to hunt with in Pennsylvania. This state is unusual for being a generally gun-friendly state, but having such a weird restriction when it comes to hunting. Even New York State, not generally known for being gun-friendly, will let you hunt with a semi-automatic rifle so long as you use a low capacity magazine. So I'd be looking at considerable up-front expense just to get suitable gear.

I'm not even sure what is involved when it comes to licensing, though I imagine that's probably the easiest part. I've heard something about mandatory hunters safety programs, but I don't know if that's just for youth hunters or for everyone. If it's for everyone I'd probably look like an idiot going to a class filled with 12 year old kids.

The second thing is that I don't understand how anyone even finds a place to hunt. I grew up in a rural area where hunting was common, but driving around almost all of the private property that had any woodland on it was posted as no hunting. I've heard too many horror stories about people hunting on land that they shouldn't be on, probably because human land ownership and development has severely restricted the amount of land that you can just wander on to and start hunting. It seems like most people either drive a long distance to get to state/federal forest lands that allow hunting, or own their own camps or know someone who does.

So presuming I can even obtain a license, get the appropriate gear, and actually find a place where I can safely and legally hunt... I still haven't the faintest clue about the actual act of hunting. I'm proficient with firearms and could probably hit the target easily enough, but that's probably the smallest concern. I wouldn't know how to stalk game, since it's supposedly difficult to find a deer unless you happen to be driving down the road in which case they just jump out in front of you. And presuming I was even able to take one down, I haven't the faintest clue what to do with the corpse at that point.

 

[Water-Man]

Another point to consider is that there are alot of hunters who don't care if more people hunt. Some areas have too many hunters as is and it has created an unsafe environment. Then there is the weather during big game season. Doesn't matter much in some parts of the country but in the cold spots there are those that don't relish freezing their *** off while hunting. Lots of things to ponder.

 

[windwhisper]

Not sure of any current programs out. I'm very interested in knowing though. If anybody starts one or has one let me know!

 

[Rugerfan0374]

The state of Georgia has a couple programs for introducing kids to hunting, fishing and a lot of other outdoor activities. However these programs operate mostly on donations and moneys that are required by the parent of the kids that enroll the kids in these opportunities.

In today’s society and economy, hunting and outdoor activities are on the back burner for most people.In my opinion the pressures on people today are stealing valuable time in the woods. I know for me, as the years go by, it becomes tougher and tougher to carve out the time to spend, scouting, shooting, and hunting. It has come to the point where I have to put my foot down, and just take the time to these activities. Where some or most just quit hunting, and focus on their jobs, focus on the things that other people require of them, instead of focusing on what they require from themselves. When the adults give in and quit hunting, the ultimately steal the potential opportunity for the kids to experience the outdoors. The sights, the sounds, the smells, the excitement of when you see the first game animal, and it has no idea that you are there, and it is acting natural. These are the memories that I personally cherish.

As Shane posted the thread from another board, the gentlemen posted the question where do you find a place to hunt. Research, most if not all states have public hunting lands. National Forests, WMA’s , BLM lands, what ever they are called in your state, your taxes and your license fees are what is paying for these lands, don’t be foolish use them, your paying for them. I was lucky as a child, I had family land to hunt on, now I hunt public lands, it is tough, it is time consuming, to scout, look over maps, satellite photos, but that is hunting at its purest level. Most will not hunt public lands, because you can’t drive a 4 wheeler to your stand, you have to ride the shoe leather express to get to where the game is. Some years I go home empty handed, but that is the breaks of the game. I am one guy, trying to hunt 43,000 acres of National Forest Land, the odds are not in my favor, unless I do the homework year in and year out, trying to determine, where the game is, and unlike us, the game essentially has no boundaries, the big posted sign is not intended for the deer.
I learned early on, if you can see the road from your tree stand, you have not walked far enough.

These are my opinions, right or wrong, this is the way I see it. I fear that in years to come that our sport will have dwindled to nothing.

 

[broom_jm]

Indiana, and other states, have a program called "Becoming an Outdoorswoman" (BOW) and my wife has participated in and taught classes for them. It has certainly introduced a lot of adult women to the outdoor lifestyle, shooting sports and hunting.

I think the major hurdle is that big-game hunting is an entire lifestyle that is uniquely different from most other types of outdoor recreation. There are skills that you typically need to be shown several times before you learn, like how to eviscerate a deer, how to skin and quarter, etc. If you did not grow up hunting, learning to do so as an adult can be a bit daunting...that's why the only programs you see or hear about are aimed at youths.

The best we can do is take the time to mentor a would-be hunter, if you meet one and have the means to do so. Regardless of whether you think there are too many hunters, or you want the woods all to yourself, if we don't keep a fairly high number of hunters in the woods each fall our individual rights TO HUNT will be slowly taken away. Hunters vote and hunters pay license fees, taxes and help drive small-town economies, during the fall seasons. We need to maintain those economic impacts if we're to retain our hunting rights.

That's the way I see it, anyway.

 

[JPaulF]

I have introduced a whole host of people to shooting over the past 45 years and a great many of them have become life-long shooters who bring a great many new shooters into the fold, too. That said, the numbers who have become life-long hunters can be counted on my fingers.

Reductions in public hunting lands, increases in fees, reduction in private lands open to hunters and the lack of "need" for game meat are the biggest contributors to a reduction in the number of hunters. Too many, I know, have been driven out of the fields by such.

 

[MikeG]

I gutted my first deer by myself, but had cleaned enough small game to have an idea what I was doing, more or less. Agree that it's not a simple task for a new hunter that has never held a knife before!

I gut the deer and pigs for my wife. She does help skin them. My son, of course, thinks it's just the greatest thing to cut up a critter.... so he's going to get to butcher some of my animals soon

Ya literally got to lead the newbies by the hand, sometimes.

 

[MontyF]

I came from ranching background so being outdoors and around guns was a way of life. When coming to city schools I was amazed there were boys in my class who had never fired a rifle or never hunted.

Now that i'm older I have mentored several young men and some I'd consider hooked for life. Just hope they hand down what they have learned.

 

[broom_jm]

I gutted my first deer by myself, but had cleaned enough small game to have an idea what I was doing, more or less. Agree that it's not a simple task for a new hunter that has never held a knife before!

I gut the deer and pigs for my wife. She does help skin them. My son, of course, thinks it's just the greatest thing to cut up a critter.... so he's going to get to butcher some of my animals soon

Ya literally got to lead the newbies by the hand, sometimes.

I don't say this to disparage a good man, but there was a guy we'll call "Dave" who hunted with my family and I every season for about 10 years. Dave was a newspaper editor, a good wing-shot and honestly enjoyed deer hunting. However, in the course of that decade, he killed at least 4 deer and despite having witnessed the process of gutting a deer several times, never became anywhere near proficient at it. This was largely because Dave clearly struggled with the "gross" factor of the job. Again, this is not to suggest he was inferior in any way, but it serves to illustrate that not all people are cut out to kill game for themselves, let alone do all of the dirty work required to take it from tag to table.

This is where experienced sportsman can do themselves and hunting itself a favor, by helping each other out. This is our heritage and that cannot be sustained in the absence of a legacy. I will try my very best to pass it down in my family, as well as to spread the word to those who show sincere interest.

 

[MikeG]

Heck sometimes the novice can be useful anyway. When my wife and son each killed a doe about 5 minutes apart (unknown to me at the time), at dark, one of them got to hold the flashlight and one of them got to hold a leg while I got the job done. Seemed like it went pretty quickly that way but maybe it was motivation? Told them to hang on, and stand back as far as they could. It was "knives-a-slashin" like the song says and we were back in camp pretty quick!

 

[broom_jm]

Sounds like my kind of family bonding, Mike!

 

[broom_jm]

Yeah, if we told prospective hunters that the process was about 98% preparation, boredom and hard work, with the other 2% being heart-stopping excitement, that might not bring many more into the fold, huh?

 

[shane256]

Thanks for the replies so far. On that other tech board, some years ago I actually stated an open offer to take people hunting as long as they could get themselves down here and pay for their license. I even have spare rifles for them to use (one of the concerns of that guy in the other thread was that equipment rules are different state to state, as we all know). I enjoy hunting a great deal and have taken new/novice hunters out a number of times.

 

[CAROLINAHOAN]

I like what Rugerfan0374 posted.....

I'm lucky to have quite a bit of public game land in western NC, and they are full of critters if you know where to go. Of course NC game lands are not as big as Idaho's where I grew up being my Dad's bird dog and tagging along on elk and mule deer hunts. Moved to NC just after I took Idaho's hunter safety course, and boy was I ever ready to start huntin' out there. Well, after moving I've basically taught myself how to hunt out here. It just seems natural to me. In fact, I consider myself a fairly decent self-taught woodsman. It's hard to imagine me not being a hunter, but if I did not grow up the way I did.... hmmmm, naw it's in my blood.... I'd definitely still be a hunter.

I introduced a few Army buddies that grew up in big cities to fishing. I was gettin' ready to show them how to hunt pheasant, deer, and whatever else was on the menu, but I got sent to Korea. That bummed me out cuz before I came down on orders I had brought my hunting weapons back to base while on leave.

I would like to know of any programs that introduce people to hunting especially young people. I've introduced a couple people here, and they still hunt. I reckon that's pretty good, and I am always booked solid on youth day for turkeys. I think taking a youth turkey huntin' is about the best way to introduce them hunting. I always tell 'em that you are almost guaranteed to at least hear a turkey if we don't see one. In fact, my huntin' buddy in NY helped 3 youths bag their first turkey last spring.

Well, I've rambled enough. This year I've got a couple more guys that want me to take them hunting to see what it's all about. Like Rugerfan said once you see that deer or game animal acting naturally on their turf or your first pile of fresh bear crap or whatever you'll be hooked like me.

Yes, I dressed out my first deer by myself....it wasn't too messy, but I couldn't find my hunting knife so I used a box cutter/utility knife.... it worked, but I sure do like my hunting knife a whole lot better now....

keep up the tradition

 

[Foxhound1]

Hunter Education Programme

In Australia a lot of us have to fight hard to keep our hunting and even firearm ownership, this probably makes opportunities easier for new Hunters!

Just to own a firearm we have to either be a farmer, or be a member of a sporting association! Whether it be target shooting, pistol club etc etc. this goes in hand with hunting, you need to either have a letter of authority to hunt on a farm ( Ranch ) or be part of a hunting club.

So to increase members the Australian Deer Association which I am a member runs hunter education programs regularly throughout the year and encourages experienced hunters to go out on field tips even including children, it's highly successful.

Even some of us have taken new hunters out away from the main field trips, it's the least we can do to keep our sports going. Recently the Victorian Government has realised that deer hunting in that state alone is a $400 million dollar turn over and is becoming more supportive! Not bad considering the state only has 5.8 million people!

I would think you're hunting organisations would do the same? Years ago I was getting the RMEF magazines and thought they did something?

I have taken out two privately already this year ( not to my favourite spot ) and they have seen deer, I did have one hunter years back take a head that I was almost jealous that I took him' but these times you really can measure yourself as a "Hunter"

 

[Sus Scrofa]

We have no problem here in the UK. The Government initiated what is called the Deer Initiative which was set up to control the exploding population of deer, mainly around the capital where one or two had jumped on top of their posh expensive cars. Our organisations provide education and training which I am not against but it has a downside, it breeds 'instant experts' and also gives the authorities POWER, power to dictate that even though you have 40yrs experience and some of that as a professional guide, you cannot hunt on certain property without having passed THEIR test at your expense($500). I have a friend who is a professional game manager/stalker in Scotland and because of this had to take a higher level tests and on arrival at the test area found that the instructor was a youth he had kicked off his estate because he was pathetically useless. The best way to learn without doubt is how you describe, actually going out with an experienced hunter. Twenty five years ago I spent a lot of time actually guiding and had a fair few 'novices' through my hands and hope that when they left they had learned a little extra.

In the USA I did attend a show put on by the Texas Parks & Wildlife at Austin and was very impressed by the emphasis on teaching youngsters about hunting and handling guns.

My view, is yes, have education/training but keep it voluntary and don't let officialdom any where near it.

This subject was raised a few years ago now I know, but is still well worth resurrecting.

 

[Tnhunter]

I'd not read any of this 4 1/2 year old thread before today, but have found it very interesting. I'd like to add another slant on the overall message it was meant to convey. I've been lucky enough to have met some very fine people while planning three hunts for wounded service members, not least among them the three individuals themselves. All three had endured very horrific circumstances along with life altering injuries while serving our Nation it it's "War on Terrorism". I have also been lucky enough to have had some wonderful people I didn't know at all offer to help with the expenses incurred in what these hunts entail.

It was my distinct honor to have met and hunted with these individuals, while also sharing a hunting camp with them. While the overall design of any true "hunting camp" is to have a successful hunt, we also did whatever we could to simply give these men a nice, enjoyable respite from the ordeals all of them have experienced trying to re-learn how to live a full life, now that they were somewhat different then they were prior to being sent overseas.

One thing ran commonly with all three; they were all fairly new to hunting and had only recently had their very first harvests, or their harvest on our hunt was their very first. I know how difficult it can be to participate in a hobby such as hunting while on active duty. I spent about 8 years myself overseas in my career, missing many, many seasons. So, it should not come as a surprise that these young men were not terribly experienced hunters. Now that these young men are about to embark on a new life for themselves after their honored service, I feel it important that they try and experience new things, among them hunting!

It could be a coincidence, but all three of these fellas discussed how they enjoyed the woods, the silence, the anticipation as well as the opportunity to harvest. It might be prudent for all of us hunters to keep these fine men & women in our thoughts as we consider "mentoring" new hunters. I can promise you that they will be open to someone giving advice, or sharing a hunting experience with them. It need not be elaborate either. Part of the reason we chose a hog hunt to share is because where we hunt a license is not a difficult thing to purchase. Sure, most all younger folks today need to have had a hunter safety course, but trying to set up a new hunt for someone where an out of state license is hundreds of $$, is looking at a substantial undertaking.

Think small game, think hogs, think something that doesn't seem insurmountable. Again, I encourage all of you to consider such an undertaking. It is something you will NEVER regret having done, even if it turns out to be a one-time deal. I am planning the fourth such hunt right now and we are moving into an area where the costs will include a rather pricey out of state license (unless we get a service member from in the state of Maine). If anyone has questions about how I've planned these hunts (after simply winging the first), just what is entailed and how you might find a deserving service member, send me a PM and I will try to help.

If you might happen to have some ground to hunt, a cabin (or simply a place to house a guest) and the will to help, I'm sure you can. After all, I ONLY had the will to help and it has worked out fine for me.

It was not my intention at all to hijack this older thread, but I did feel that specifically mentioning our Nation's service members as possible candidates to help enter into hunting might ignite a special interest in some.

 

[Irv S]

I just read an editorial by Mike Schoby titled "Carrying Capacity" (in the Dec 2014 - Jan 2015 issue of "Peterson's Hunting) that can be interpreted as giving a completely different perspective. Although aimed at potential future loss of places to hunt, it talks about the diminishing of quality in the hunting experience with the increase in the number of hunters.

 

[longshot378]

Well from my perspective it mostly comes down to a society thats slowly changed since the early days of tv.
When i grew up in the 40s there was very little to entertain us. As a result many of us took to
those things available to us having no cost. Some of my friends didnt have parents who hunted and fished but they did it anyway.
Today there are numerous things a young or older person can do in order to entertain them selves and thats what more and more are doing. I see old established camps going unused.
PA has had hunter saftey coarse requirments for probably 50 years now. Anyone born after
1949 must have it in order to get a licence. Many states if not all require a hunter saftey
course validation in order to receive a non res licence. So there is no getting around that issue for an adult having a desire to hunt.
I cant ever recall being trained to hunt. It was simply that i was along on the hunt and saw
what others did which wasent always the correct way. Its essentually a learn as you go thing.
PA as an example has several million acres of state ownd land thruout the state where a
person could train themselves 24/7/365. Beyond that the ammount of information available
is endless. Adults learn to play golf, fly airplanes, and all sorts of things.
All things take innitiative to begin with on part of the interested person. Everything begins there and i feel thats whats lacking in todays enviornment.
Sorry, but im personaly not going to be inviting any adult strangers along anyplace or time
guns are involved unless theyve been vouched for by someone i know and trust.