Interesting article...hunting & fishing

[smokin' joe]

Wonder if this is a trend???

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080329/...ting_s_decline

 

[travcoman45]

Afraid it probably is. Parent's don't care what there kids are doin long as they aint botherin them. Mine weren't raised that way and that is why they still hunt and fish today. Granddaughter has been campin several times and she's only 1 1/2! A sad closed in world we live in now. Made most of it ourselves and now were stuck with it. Wish more folks would just try it outside, it is wonderfull if you know where to look!

 

[bustedluckbarbq]

That is a shame....

Our Family vacation this year was at Watoga state park in WV... fishing, hiking, and swimming/tubing in the Green Briar river.... no TVs, games, computers, etc... the only indoor activity we did was late evenings... put jigsaw puzzles together.... some school oriented activity books... few old board games...

all three daughters went along to scout this years stand spot... oldest (16) came here for a week just for deer season.... helped gut and drag 3 on opening day!! She is a true champ!~!

I only get the 2 oldest for the summer (16 and 11).... we fish regularly... 5 year old loves it....

I also noticed back about 2 years ago on drill weekends... I was worrying about keeping up with the younger guys on runs or at PT... being older and a smoker... thought i wouldn't keep up... 1/4 mile into runs these young ones were falling out... It showed they never played outside til street lights came on.... then ya had to be with in Mom's shout distance...

Who remebers coming in with cold green feet and ITCHY (especially your back) all over from grass??? If i could go back there now....

sorry got on a roll!!

 

[fireguy]

yup, we need to introduce more people to hunting.. Kids who are out hunting are burning energy, staying active, learning a past time, and most importantly staying out of trouble.

 

[cowgirl]

I hope it's not a trend too. I grew up hunting, camping and fishing, I'm glad my dad taught me to enjoy the outdoors.
One problem I see in this area for new hunters....the ranchers are leasing out their land for thousands of dollars, while I can't blame them for making money from their land, it means the local kids are running out of places to hunt.

 

[capt dan]

Got the same decline here in Michigan too. The butget woes of our state are not helping things. Alot of youth programs are being closed or downsized. Game and wildlife managers have their hands tied by governors who won't fund additional programs or maintain existing ones.

It is sad that an american tradition is slowly slipping into the closet.

 

[salmonclubber]

i know the cost of fuel is cutting into our family outings everything we do now days is closer to home and not as often as we used to i cant afford to pay off my boat and cant afford to run it its crazy

 

[rwc565]

Alot of the problem is the liberal, tree huggin' mind set that is prevailant in todays world. They think it is terrible to kill "Bambi" and they think guns are the root of all evil. I also agree that some of the cause is parents who dont care what their kids are doing as long as they arent bothered. But mostly the problem is most people are raised in a city environment and that is all theyve ever known, which in its self is a sad commentary on todays lifestyle. I'm glad I live out in the country in land of the Indian... Good Ole OKLAHOMA!!

 

[minn.bill]

hunting ,fishing and outdoor activities arent the only thing going by the wayside any more have you tried hiring any young ones latley?they want top wages but will not work for it.i could goon and on but am feeling the need to go outside for a while.lol.thinking about that ya know a year ago i wouldnt of even considerd turning on a comp and spending an hr or 2 on it.ohoh whats happening to me .

 

[smokebuzz]

OK, watch how we use the term TREE HUGGER, im a HUGE tree hugger. THINK about, no trees? THATS whats killing hunting, more houses, corn from ditch to ditch, patures and so on. then you have Iowa whoreing out state ground to pay of state debts, ground set aside for the outdoorsman, GONE to condos ,resorts,golf courses.

I'm a hunter ed instructor and get moms asking" I don't know if i want little Johnny hunting" i tell them "Your child will probly have a gun in his hands, where do you want him to do it and would you like to instill some resonsibility into them?"

My 1/2 bro grew up playing video games, got into ***** and wanted to do a "drive by" shooting, THANK god it was only cows. this is a product of poor life management,upbringing, and makeing poor choices. I didn't talk to my dad for a LONG time after it, lot more to that.

Our kids are a product of their razeing, it's our choice to try.

 

[erain]

thanks smokebuzz for devoting time to the hunter ed program, know in my area we are finding a hard time to find people to give up there free time and participate. whether you call it treehugger or conservationist we as hunters and fisherman are the true conservationists, all the programs like hunter ed, managment of our lakes, rivers, forests, stocking programs of both fish and wildlife, etc. are funded directly from funds generated by sales of licences,stamps, conservation certificates etc. and us hunters and fisherpeople need to stick together and not let the decreasing numbers of people who take part in outdoor activities become the majority who will take these rights away from us thru anti gun,anti hunting, and yes even anti fishing special interest groups which influence our politicians on capitol hill. sorry about going on and on but as ted nugent says "take your kids hunting so you dont have to hunt for your kids". thank you

 

[johngil]

Unfortunately, this probably is a trend. I am a hard core, life long hunter and fishermen with three kids. None of which are particularly interested in either. They show some interest in fishing but little to none in hunting. I have not forced the issue for fear of pushing them away from the sport.

My concern is that this article, in my humble opinion, is misplaced. It seems to place most of its concern on the financial impact of the decline rather then a loss of the tradition and heritage of this great country. While I hate to see folks lose their jobs as a result of less income into the states. It would seem to me that any of our fifty states could spend a bit less money of some of the "pork" programs they fund, and channel it into this area to preserve the heritage. In the BIG picture, that to me is more important then jobs or the spotted owl.
I say all this as someone who doesn't stand to lose his job either, so perhaps I am a bit removed..

Grilling, the most fun you can have with n open flame and a dead animal!

John

 

[decepticron]

Here in B.C. we have great hunting seasons. They are long and there is something to hunt almost all year. Behind my house there is public land that runs for hundreds of miles. A whole mountain range to the ocean. Almost nothing on the land out here. I think that in some places the lack of public space deters the hunters. Money has nothing to do with it in my opinion. I'm waiting on a paycheque but i put on the snowshoes and hiked out there last night. Had a coyote come in to howling but not quite to bowrange. I think he smelled me. Anyway , if every time you watched hunting or fishing on tv people weren't forced to look at all the cool gear you can't afford maybe people would hunt like me, with a 100 dollar bow. I'll tell you what i know, I took 3 deer 2 bears lots of birds and a coyote (almost 2) last year and not having money kept me hunting.