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re: Not a new topic: Hunter participation rates falling.
Posted on 12/30/25 at 6:09 pm to Purple Spoon
Posted on 12/30/25 at 6:09 pm to Purple Spoon
Cost of land and hunting in general is the biggest problem.
In the south unless the land is swamp that is unusable and not good duck hunting either you are going to have to spend a few hundred K$ on a piece of property big enough to kill a couple deer every year. A briar patch with Chinese tallow is 5-10,000$ an acre and will take 40 or more acres to be worth it….
A lease plus feed, gas, ect is going to be 4000$ a year or more for a poor to average spot. It’s a wealthy man’s game or going broke game….
In the south unless the land is swamp that is unusable and not good duck hunting either you are going to have to spend a few hundred K$ on a piece of property big enough to kill a couple deer every year. A briar patch with Chinese tallow is 5-10,000$ an acre and will take 40 or more acres to be worth it….
A lease plus feed, gas, ect is going to be 4000$ a year or more for a poor to average spot. It’s a wealthy man’s game or going broke game….
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Posted on 12/30/25 at 7:38 pm to Salmon
quote:
from what I have witnessed, opportunity is decreasing for a lot of younger hunters
My son loved guns when he was young and was really wanting to into hunting. I wasn’t paying for a lease and wasn’t comfortable going onto public lands so I steered him heavily into fishing. He became obsessed with fishing starting around 10 years old. We’ve had some great memories.
He got a kayak two years ago and goes 30 to 40 times a year out on that thing.
This post was edited on 12/30/25 at 8:16 pm
Posted on 12/30/25 at 7:56 pm to MC5601
quote:
Land prices - The most significant thing holding back hunter participation is land prices. Land prices have risen around 5X in the last 25 years
Where are you talking about? In SW MS, this is absolutely not true. In fact, your favorite stock market index would’ve been a far better investment.
Posted on 12/30/25 at 11:46 pm to Purple Spoon
I spent 20 plus years working for a non profit conservation group. We spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on this problem, creating opportunities for kids, women and the disabled.
We held symposiums and training sessions. We created an army of volunteer mentors and land owners willing to teach and provide access
And in the end what we learned is that while you can introduce someone to hunting, if you aren’t available to them over the course of several years in order to mentor, instruct, guide and take afield, they eventually either lose interest or become overwhelmed and drop out.
As a nation, we’ve left the farm to a large extent, and in doing so we’ve left our hunting traditions.
However, the most valuable part of the research is the fact that land leasing has had a negative impact on the number of hunters we presently have. And as the number of leased acres continues to rise, the number of hunters will continue to decrease due to lost opportunities to be on the land.
Surprisingly, there are people who don’t necessarily consider this a bad thing. They believe a reduction in hunter numbers will in turn greatly enhance the public land experience.
We held symposiums and training sessions. We created an army of volunteer mentors and land owners willing to teach and provide access
And in the end what we learned is that while you can introduce someone to hunting, if you aren’t available to them over the course of several years in order to mentor, instruct, guide and take afield, they eventually either lose interest or become overwhelmed and drop out.
As a nation, we’ve left the farm to a large extent, and in doing so we’ve left our hunting traditions.
However, the most valuable part of the research is the fact that land leasing has had a negative impact on the number of hunters we presently have. And as the number of leased acres continues to rise, the number of hunters will continue to decrease due to lost opportunities to be on the land.
Surprisingly, there are people who don’t necessarily consider this a bad thing. They believe a reduction in hunter numbers will in turn greatly enhance the public land experience.
This post was edited on 12/30/25 at 11:48 pm
Posted on 12/31/25 at 12:29 am to Purple Spoon
Lots of things.
Private land and land access if far, far far more expensive and limited than it was 30-50 yrs ago.
And I'm sorry, but suburban, sub-dividion kids (which most are now), are not equipped now to handle a bb gun, much less and rifle and range time and hunting/outdoor skills, etc.
They're mostly as all shut-in, antisocial video game kids. And usually, their dad was, too.
Public land is something no one wants to mess with.
State and local officials make it tough, too.
Unless you have easy access to a lot of land or basically raised on a farm, you're not going to be into it anymore.
Private land and land access if far, far far more expensive and limited than it was 30-50 yrs ago.
And I'm sorry, but suburban, sub-dividion kids (which most are now), are not equipped now to handle a bb gun, much less and rifle and range time and hunting/outdoor skills, etc.
They're mostly as all shut-in, antisocial video game kids. And usually, their dad was, too.
Public land is something no one wants to mess with.
State and local officials make it tough, too.
Unless you have easy access to a lot of land or basically raised on a farm, you're not going to be into it anymore.
Posted on 12/31/25 at 6:39 am to Purple Spoon
When I was a young growing up in North Louisiana everything was wide open, if it didn't have a fence around it you could hunt "usually".
We could see a good buck cross the road and just go in and put a stand up, no permission required.
If you were a teenage boy and didn't hunt everyone thought something was wrong with you.
Now if you don't own land or pay out the arse for a lease you are shite out of luck.
We could see a good buck cross the road and just go in and put a stand up, no permission required.
If you were a teenage boy and didn't hunt everyone thought something was wrong with you.
Now if you don't own land or pay out the arse for a lease you are shite out of luck.
Posted on 12/31/25 at 7:00 am to Purple Spoon
Agree with every point in your post. Especially this part…
I have 3 degrees and a dozen or so professional licenses, but when I get on these sites for states out west and they start talking about units and priority points and draws and raffles and special licenses, I log out and give up.
What I don’t understand is as fast as participation rates are dropping, bitching about out of state hunters on public land is rising.
quote:
Public land is increasingly regulated and cryptic
I have 3 degrees and a dozen or so professional licenses, but when I get on these sites for states out west and they start talking about units and priority points and draws and raffles and special licenses, I log out and give up.
What I don’t understand is as fast as participation rates are dropping, bitching about out of state hunters on public land is rising.
Posted on 12/31/25 at 7:06 am to Slickback
I didn’t allow the Western state draws hinder me. I have public lands bighorn ram, elk, mule deer, and pronghorn to show for it. It isn’t that hard but does take time and research.
Posted on 12/31/25 at 7:08 am to The Torch
There was a small time frame where deer had returned to the countryside and a person could hunt wherever they wanted. Probably about ten to fifteen years. Not surprising that landowners don’t want strangers shooting high powered rifles on their property.
Posted on 12/31/25 at 7:21 am to 257WBY
quote:
landowners don’t want strangers shooting high powered rifles on their property.
We had a big problem with dog hunters back in the day too, they would run crazy all over anyone's property lining the blacktop with trucks / shooting off the road.
I'm sure that didn't help
Posted on 12/31/25 at 7:32 am to Jack Ruby
The only truth to your post is price of land being expensive.
I can tell you’ve never even tried to hunt any public land in your life. It’s not easy hunting but it’s very easy to access public in la or ms.
Some kids may be into video games but my kids rather hunt, fish and play sports, so do their friends.
If you live in la, chances are you know someone who hunts. Ask to join them one weekend. Hunt as a guest, get on the clubs waiting list.
I can tell you’ve never even tried to hunt any public land in your life. It’s not easy hunting but it’s very easy to access public in la or ms.
Some kids may be into video games but my kids rather hunt, fish and play sports, so do their friends.
If you live in la, chances are you know someone who hunts. Ask to join them one weekend. Hunt as a guest, get on the clubs waiting list.
Posted on 12/31/25 at 7:44 am to WillFerrellisking
quote:
I can tell you’ve never even tried to hunt any public land in your life. It’s not easy hunting but it’s very easy to access public in la or ms.
Yup. I've been hunting LA/MS public since I was 13 or 14 and can count the bad encounters I've had with other hunters on one hand. It takes some work but that's part of the fun. I don't feel good about it when it's too easy.
Posted on 12/31/25 at 7:48 am to Purple Spoon
quote:
Whitetail trophy hunting culture is not contusive to "fun".
Waterfowl "conservation" and changes in climate patterns have altered migration. Public land is a mess. Hunting clubs are 50% drama seeking Karens in camo.
All of this makes me want to do it less for sure. When I finally get on a stand I am grateful, but all of the bullshite to get to that point almost isn't worth it.
Posted on 12/31/25 at 7:58 am to Purple Spoon
I’ve said it before but supposedly numbers don’t lie. I just don’t see a decline in hunters especially areas I hunt. Actually every year it seems there’s more people in the woods.
The waiting list for a crappy swamp club at home has a waiting list of 50+. The piney woods club my family hunts has a waiting list of 20+.
The public grounds I hunt have been increasingly getting more crowded each year. Hell even weekdays have numerous hunters out now when it used to be a ghost town durning the week.
Is it possible maybe the criteria people are using to judge license sales is from an inflated timeline or an outdated timeline? Like when people were actually hunting for food to feed families?
Like someone else stated, everyone who lives in a state with high deer densities are complaining about the number of out of state hunters flocking there.
The reason rural land is expensive nowadays is cause hunters are buying it up.
On the bright side, I believe this wave of public land hunters we are seeing is at its highest peak and will start dwindling down once people realize there’s not a deer behind every tree.
Maybe I’m wrong and have tunnel vision cause I’m a hunter but I just don’t see declining numbers at all.
The waiting list for a crappy swamp club at home has a waiting list of 50+. The piney woods club my family hunts has a waiting list of 20+.
The public grounds I hunt have been increasingly getting more crowded each year. Hell even weekdays have numerous hunters out now when it used to be a ghost town durning the week.
Is it possible maybe the criteria people are using to judge license sales is from an inflated timeline or an outdated timeline? Like when people were actually hunting for food to feed families?
Like someone else stated, everyone who lives in a state with high deer densities are complaining about the number of out of state hunters flocking there.
The reason rural land is expensive nowadays is cause hunters are buying it up.
On the bright side, I believe this wave of public land hunters we are seeing is at its highest peak and will start dwindling down once people realize there’s not a deer behind every tree.
Maybe I’m wrong and have tunnel vision cause I’m a hunter but I just don’t see declining numbers at all.
Posted on 12/31/25 at 8:00 am to Loup
I’ve hunted public all my life and can only think of one run in with a deer hunter.
Duck hunting public is a whole different beast. With OnX now I can hear where the shooting is, point my phone in that direction and estimate the distance and find the exact hole and beat them to it the next day. And for some reason this new generation does not like peace and quiet they want to jam music the whole time. I am trying my best to teach my kid how to not be a skybusting punk
Duck hunting public is a whole different beast. With OnX now I can hear where the shooting is, point my phone in that direction and estimate the distance and find the exact hole and beat them to it the next day. And for some reason this new generation does not like peace and quiet they want to jam music the whole time. I am trying my best to teach my kid how to not be a skybusting punk
Posted on 12/31/25 at 8:24 am to WillFerrellisking
“Contrary to popular sentiments, hunter numbers aren’t lower in every state. Most states have slightly fewer hunters today than 20 to 30 years ago, but many actually have more sportsmen and women going afield.
“Pennsylvania had 1 million in 2001 and around 850,000 today,” Adams said. “Conversely, Florida had 226,000 in 2001 and 351,000 today. Most have fewer hunters today, though.”
Georgia, Idaho, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and others have experienced increases in hunter numbers, too. In short, the hunter number discussion looks different in each state and should be addressed accordingly.”
LINK
“Pennsylvania had 1 million in 2001 and around 850,000 today,” Adams said. “Conversely, Florida had 226,000 in 2001 and 351,000 today. Most have fewer hunters today, though.”
Georgia, Idaho, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and others have experienced increases in hunter numbers, too. In short, the hunter number discussion looks different in each state and should be addressed accordingly.”
LINK
Posted on 12/31/25 at 8:43 am to 257WBY
quote:
“Contrary to popular sentiments, hunter numbers aren’t lower in every state. Most states have slightly fewer hunters today than 20 to 30 years ago, but many actually have more sportsmen and women going afield.
I think the concern is that even though the numbers are pretty steady that the % of the population that hunts is lowering.
This shows that you're right about the overall number not really being lower.
Graph views of license purchases by state
Posted on 12/31/25 at 9:59 am to Purple Spoon
quote:
Waterfowl "conservation" and changes in climate patterns have altered migration.
This sucks. When I moved to my retirement home on this lake in East Texas ten plus years ago, I used to hear migrating geese in the beginning until about seven years ago. I've not heard any since. Early on I heard specks and snow geese and then only specks. Not sure if they migrate to SE Texas anymore.
Posted on 12/31/25 at 10:06 am to Jack Ruby
quote:
And I'm sorry, but suburban, sub-dividion kids (which most are now), are not equipped now to handle a bb gun, much less and rifle and range time and hunting/outdoor skills, etc.
I said it earlier in my post but will say it again, it depends on how the kids were raised.
I live in a suburb of Memphis. My son was brought on his 1st dove hunt when he was around 2 years old. Wasn't there long as his mom and grandmother brought him. He absolutely loved it. Carried around a couple of dead birds with him the whole time he was there. He started hunting with his own gun when he was 8 or 9. He was allowed one shell in the chamber until he got older. He start duck hunting with me when he was 4 or 5 (jus
We have taken many of his friends that didn't have the opportunity to hunt with us several times and they loved it and still hunt to this day.
He did grow up playing video games, but he'd rather be outside hunting, fishing or hanging out with his friends.
I've taken so many of his friends to my gun club several times without my son to let them shoot and to teach them how to shoot and handle guns safely.
Yes, there are still a lot of kids that don't have those opportunities but I have tried to help that as much as I could.
This post was edited on 12/31/25 at 10:11 am
Posted on 12/31/25 at 1:30 pm to Purple Spoon
quote:
Waterfowl "conservation" and changes in climate patterns have altered migration.
Changing land use practices and ever increasing mechanized human traffic through waterfowl country are bigger impacts than climate patterns
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