hunter # down?

[weatherby]

is it just me or does it seem as fast as we try to get the younger hunters involved in the outdoors we are losing the older hunters?it seems like everyone i grew up hunting with quit hunting. they leave for florida in september and get back to michigan in may.the ones that do stay in the state don't hunt, they golf or fish.my dad is a prime example.out of the 5 people he hunted with for years he is the only one still hunting. 1 is in arizona , 1 in florida, 1 dead and 2 live in michigan year round and golf only.they all still have the health to get outdoors they just have no interest in it.what gives?

[Eastern Yooper]

One theory might be that they grew tired of all the myriad of rules and regs imposed in the last several years.

Think about it some, and it becomes obvious that outdoor sports have become rather complicated.

Duck and deer hunting are two examples.

[OTIS]

When My dad and I were Scouting in the UP this year and we happened across an old timer that was preparing Blinds for "clients" to come and hunt out of. He told us stories of the big bucks that he had shot over the years, this guy had shot so many deer that he could not begin to count them all. He said something similar as weatherby's post. "One day he decided that he did not want to shoot any more deer" He said he lost his desire to do it.
Maybe this is common? I know it is easy to say "never" but think about it.
When you were younger How many said " I will never smoke"
or " I will never get fat"

[mich buckmaster]

My dad is almost there. He wants to quit:

1... He is getting older and its harder to get up. He needs help with the dragging and stand placement.

2... He is getting tired of all the poachers around our area and the deer herd being diminished.

3... He is sick of people always getting the good lands and then they brag brag brag about how they are great hunters, when they just have the best private land.

I can see why old timers want to quit, but me being 29 I have a lot of years before I feel that.

:D

[Oct.1]

I read this and realized, (gulp)…. I understand. I hate the thought of getting old. I look forward to retirement so I can set my own schedule, be free and do what I want. But retirement says I'm getting old. I'm in my mid 50's now and am saddened realizing that I have only about half of the time I have lived, left to live. I remember my parents saying how fast life passes by, but I didn't realize how right they were until I was the age they were when they told me that. It seems like just yesterday that I realized I'm not 18 anymore. I really miss those days. But for now I will look forward to being able to decide when I want to get up, look forward to fishing when I want to. Look forward to hunting as long as these old bones will allow me to go afield. Look forward to being 18 again. But in reality I know that age will set in, the dying process of the body will continue. I will do all I can do to slow that down. But sometimes S-T happens. I don't think old hunters go south because they don't want to hunt anymore, I think its because its easier. The body gets tired, the bones ache and you just don't want to get up at 4am.
So…. live life now while your young. MAKE the time to enjoy your free time. Don't just sit, get fat, and watch life pass you by. Someday soon you may realize how much in your life was left undone, and than understand why old hunters disappear.

[boehr]

I can understand too. I have been getting closer to the point that I don't really care if I hunt or not. I do care that I'm just in the outdoors but there is a lot of outdoors to see, in Michigan and other places. As far as the rules, I don't see them getting that much more difficult. I do get tired of the selfishness out there though, of how many fish in the box, how many deer you shot, who got the biggest rack, that's what I'm tired of the most.

[mondrella]

I think we are probably losing are older hunters at the same rate as always. The problem is we are not getting the young people in the woods enough. Parents are so busy with jobs today and trying to keep up with the Jones. My wife and I decided before we had children we would sacrifice to have one of us at home with are Kids. Then on the weekends I try not to work. The weekends are for getting outdoors hunting and fishing. My daughter has caught gills, perch and 7 keeper bass and one keeper walleye and she will be 3 in March. Not a bad start. She spent 5 evenings in the rifle blind this year. Thanksgiving weekend she helped her 76 year old Great Grandpa drag his buck out of the woods. She is addicted all she talks about is hunting and fishing.
Its to easy for parents to entertain thier kids with video games and Organized sports. We as a group need to get are kids and Grandkids in the outdoors more and let them find the passion we have for hunting and fishing. So maybe instead of little league this year lets try fishing on nights they have practice and games and maybe the #'s will start to grow.

[Dangler]

Two facts affect this discussion:

1. Our society is getting older:
2. Fewer younger people are joining the hunting fraternity.

Therefore, hunter numbers are dwindling due to attrition. I doubt that the rules are having any affect on the people that want to hunt.

One of the things being discussed here is why older hunters don't take it as serious anymore. It's not just the physical hardship. It's largely because, after a certain point, you don't have to kill something to have a good time. Some of you have probably seen the 5 phases in the life of a hunter.
1. Kill something;
2. Kill as many as possible;
3. Kill the biggest one;
4. Kill something, but mostly enjoy the experience;
5. Enjoy the experience, and maybe kill something.

These might not be stated exactly like I've seen it written, but it's close.

[DaYoop]

I do get tired of the selfishness out there though, of how many fish in the box, how many deer you shot, who got the biggest rack, that's what I'm tired of the most.

Boehr, I agree 110%, even though its all I've ever seen.

[boehr]

Dangler...also a great post, I would also agree with you on those reasons too.

[Dutchman]

the last few deer I shot,I walked up to them and wished I could rub them and say "I won this time" then have them get up and go.Man,I must be gettin old:eek:
I gave up tryin to prove myself a hunter by showing off every deer I killed long ago. NOW I hunt for me.

[Randy Kidd]

When we were younger and if we were blessed with an honest to god deer camp where a week or two was spent roughing it in the woods with a bunch of characters right out of a Zane Gray novel. Did any of us ever notice the ages of the "adult" hunters? Seems to me 90% of them were under 50. And the "old timers" that were in camp were usually the guys that cooked all the meals, did most of the camp chores, and maybe went out hunting once or twice, But he was always the last to leave camp in the morning and the first to bet back. He was a legend in camp, Killed more deer in his life than anybody else, But you never actually saw him take a deer, he just didn't seem interested anymore. Then one year he just quit going, Had other things to do. I am getting close to fifty and I find myself leaving the woods earlier than I used to. I just don't have the burning desire to spend all day hunting that buck anymore, I don't know why. I have no complaints, Nothing has "put me off" hunting. I still enjoy camp, Being in the woods. and teaching youngsters all I can about the outdoor life. I just don't need to take a deer anymore. Maybe I am the "old timer" now. Maybe most of us "Baby Boomers" can start to look forward to being called a "Legend" in camp. That's just fine with me.

[Robow]

Dutchman...sounds like to me you should put your gun/bow down for awile and pick up camera. Or better yet, take a kid out and vidio there first experience. It can give you a whole new outlook.

[Dutchman]

Robow, Actualy'I deer hunt a lot less then I used to. I discovered waterfowl'n a couple of years ago and I am spending oooodles of time doing that.If you would have told me a couple of years ago that I would be duck hunting on the second morning of gun season, I would have said you were nuts.But this year thats where I was.I also am just alot more selective in what and how I shoot my deer.The video taping sounds like fun though.

[Whit1]

Weatherby:
This is a fine thread that you started. There is a lot of thoughtful introspection here. I too, find that I don't spend the hours hunting anymore. The decline in rabbits/hares over the past fifteen years has eliminated that sport for me. Of course, being 57 yrs old with arthritis has also taken its toll.

When I grew up in Grand Rapids in the '50's it was fairly easy to find a place near the city to hunt pheasants and rabbits. The creeks north of town were excellent trout streams and you could get permission to fish them. Hunting and fishing opportunities were closeby and plentiful. Today, those hunting spots are housing developments and the creek property has been parceled off, homes have been built, and permission to fish is denied.

Even here in Manistee County we are seeing land being subdivided and hunting opportunities lost.

Oct1:
Don't fear the aging process. It is inevitable, so enjoy all that you can. Part of "growing old" is in the mind. I retired four years ago and revel in the gift of time that it has brought me. I have new opportunities, not only to hunt and fish, but just to walk out in the woods and let the aura wrap itself around me like I never did before. When I was in the working world I used to lunge through the week trying to get at Friday evening. On Sunday afternoon the first pangs of "getting back to work" would seep into my marrow. Today, in retirement, I don't have to go through all of that.

Dutchman:
"the last few deer I shot, I walked up to them and wished I could rub them and say 'I won this time',then have them get up and go. Man,I must be gettin old."

I understand. There is a movie called Starman. In it the main character sees a dead deer strapped to a car, walks up to it, touches it, and the deer comes back to life and bounds off. I've thought of that movie after walking up to a deer that I just shot, almost wishing I could do the same. When these thoughts pass through my head it isn't because I'm getting "old". Rather, it stems from a change that is taking place. I accept the change and move on. The day will come when I will no longer hunt. The hunter will always remain, but the need/desire to kill an animal will diminish to the point where it no longer needs to be fulfilled.

No, the anti-hunting groups don't have a new recruit here. Whether I hunt or not is a personal decision, not one that is foisted upon me by a group's outside influence.

Thanks for the fine topic.........and thanks to the superb responses from all of you.

[Joe Archer]

I am in my early 40's but still enjoy hunting today as much as when I first began. Three years ago I looked forward to my oldest son's first bowhunt, the year before last the enjoyment came when sharing in his fisrt rifle hunt.

Next year my middle son will be twelve. We talk about the upcoming season nightly and it's hard to tell who is more excited, Matt or myself.

My youngest (daughter) is already talking about joining us all in the archery season in four more years.

These days are the most special days of my life! I hope I am physically able to climb trees and continue to hunt well into my 60's! If not, I will track, cook, tell stories or whatever I can do to continue to share in the hunts with the people I love. <----<<<

[Robert W. McCoy Jr]

I think alot of older hunters just don't like the hole hassle of getting every thing ready to go all the time and not being able to relie on us youger hunters to be there or to help the out. I just recently got out of the ARMY, my father and I bought land before I went in, and keep it the hole time. All my buddies said I'll take care of the old man we will spend plenty of time up there. But that didn't happen. My dad was stood up numerous times and he just quit going. Well I got back in august kicked every body in the A-- and got our deer camp back togeather. And I'm happy to say that we all did really well. Expeacilly dad he got two nice bucks. Needless to say the bug has bitten him again. He carries pictures of his deer around with him. But the work I did behind the seen is what made it pay off.. So maybe if us younger guy's take that extra step to make sure the old timers have a trouble free hunt and have fun maybe that will coaz them back into it.
Remember if it weren't for them maybe we would be playing vidieo games instead of hunting.

[Whit1]

Robert,
Treasure the time that you spend with your father. Your efforts at kicking @ss and motivating the resurrection of your deer camp has been well spent. Where is the camp? I am in Manistee County. My dad has passed and my two sons who hunt have moved off and their jobs and family activities keep them occupied somewhat. We have a lot of fond memories though. Next October I'll go over to Tawas and bowhunt with my oldest boy and am looking forward to that.

[Robert W. McCoy Jr]

My camp is Glennie not to far from tawas. I do treasure the time we spend in the field togeather.
Much it due to the time I spent away from home in the ARMY It really made me appriciate being back up north. But I Told my dad next year he is gonna drag his own deer back if he shots two bucks again. ha ha

[marty]

I know that a lot of hunters here in the TB zone have just plain gave up hunting cause of deer numbers while some don't hunt as much as they use to. Several are bowhunters who quit and maybe hunt a couple days rifle then put it away.

If something isn't done about deer numbers in the TB zone the DNR is going to make it where no ones want to hunt here anymore or leave michigan to hunt in other states.

My daughter has given up bowhunting but she turns 14 this year so maybe I can get her into rifle but I don't believe she really wants too and I'm not going to force hunting on her anyway if she doesn't want too.......marty:eek:

[Whit1]

When he was alive and we weren't fishing or hunting together I used to call my dad after Opening Day for both deer and trout and give him a report. I did the same anytime I shot a buck or caught a large trout. He used to tell me that when he got a buck in his scope, and just before he pulled the trigger, the deer would say, "Opps!". The buck realized that he had made a mistake. When I called him after shooting a buck, he'd answer the phone and I would greet him with, "He said, 'Opps!".

I still give him a report after fishing on the Last Saturday in April when upland streams open for trout fishing. I always end it with, "Thanks Dad!"

[Whit1]

Marty,
While our deer numbers have not taken the drastic nosedive that your are ecperiencing, they are way down from recent years. I know of three excellent hunters who gave up just before Thanksgiving this past season. And yet the DNR says that we are still over "quota". I believe that I detect the ominous odor of bovine defacation........again!

[TGehrs]

At 71 guess I am one of the old guys who has lost interest in hunting. When I was young I didn't think this could ever happen
but your outlook on a lot of things change as the years slip by. It started about five years ago when I could no longer draw my bow
because of shoulder problems. Another thing is that there is no one to go north with for the opener. My son has moved to Florida
and it just isn't fun going up by yourself. Old friends are either dead or go to Florida or Arizona in the winter so my best buddy,
my wife, accompanies me on our outings. We're heading for the UP Sunday afternoon for four days of snowmobiling. We also ride
fourwheelers in the summer and do a little canoe and kayaking
when time permits. By the way, we both still work and have no plans to retire in the near future. I read the posts on this site and
the steelhead site most every day and get my fix so to speak from what you guys and gals have to say. Keep the posts coming
and thankyou.

Tom

[toots]

I still enjoy the time in the outdoors. At 58 Ihave changed in many of the ways that have been mentioned. I do believe the need to take a deer may diminish, but I still love the hunt. I think the topic is great, nice post. toots

[codes]

I think that it is some of the laws that effect the number of hunters in the woods. The one law that I think is the most stupid is "the no hunting on another persons property in Wastenaw county" what is that soposed to do for the environment?? If anything that law is the cause of so many deer related car accidents along M52 between Clinton and Manchester. Boehr if you can explain to me what that law is all about I would greatly appreciate it.


Codes

[boehr]

SUNDAY HUNTING-WASHTENAW COUNTY
Act 9, L.A. 1927
AN ACT to prohibit hunting on Sunday in the county of Washtenaw and to prescribe penalties for the violation thereof.
The People of the State of Michigan enact:.........................

I won't bore everyone with the text of the law but....

As you can see that law, not a state law, but a local act was passed in 1927. As my memory serves, all Sunday Hunting laws had an opportunity to be changed if the respective county boards wished to change them a few years ago. Being the county you are talking about, I would suspect that you have a lot of non-hunting people living in that county and county commissioners did not want to lose votes.

I found in talking to a bunch of older retired farmers/hunters in Huron County that back in the times those laws were passed it seemed like some of the reason was many people, probably a larger percentage than today, would go to church on Sunday and come home to find non locals hunting pheasants all over their croplands. Also, Sunday being a day of rest. We think a little differently now.

I fought for many years to get the law changed in Huron County and with mainly the help of a county commissioner who was big into hunting we succeeded but I'll tell you what, even sportsmens clubs didn't want the law changed because they were locals and didn't want any excusses for hunters from out of the area to come into Huron County to hunt. After many years, and actually catching and ticketing some of the locals for hunting on Sunday they began to see the light. The state does not support those laws and that is why you can still hunt state property even on Sunday in counties with those laws.

You need to get your county commissioners to get that law changed.

[Dangler]

Boehr, once again your post has educated us. Thank you, you're da man.

[boehr]

I would also add to the post above that there was not a trespassing law back then either. In effect, what they were trying to do sometimes, among other things, was trying to prevent trespassing. Back then, people generally thought, and they did, could take care of trespassers by themself when they were around the homestead during the week.

[codes]

boehr what if I knew the person that owned the property and he said I could go out and hunt on it . would i still get into trouble with the DNR if I caught??


Codes

[Dangler]

I'll bet I can answer this one. If your're hunting private land, you already have permission. You can't get "extra special" permission that would supercede the local law.

I don't hunt Washtenaw but I don't like that law, and I hope you're able to get it changed.

[Chuck]

My grandpa hunted till he couldnt hardly see any more, into his 70's. He still would like to go if he could. My grandma sees deer while taking out the trash so I told he to start carring a pistol. She actually poused to think about it!:) I iwll have to work on her...........

My dads nearing 60 and I see him slowing down. His hip was bothering him last season and he was worried about dragging a deer out (he walks almost 2 miles out in the swamp). He has also started to bait becouse he thinks its easier. I helped him find his deer this year in the swamp and it was a great bonding expereince. He has hunted, trapped, and fished all over and for everthing in MI. He has alot of knowledge I know I will never be able to learn becouse now he only deer hunts during gun and fishes for Blue gills and goes out on the big lake once in awhile.

Im in my 30's and have actually started my own buisness just so I can hunt more. That may change this year due to the economy. So im thankfull for the last 3 years I was able to hunt ALOT.

My brother inlaw hardly has time to hunt as much as he wants. My sis keeps him busy and he works alot. But he still has managed to get a deer every year for the last 3 or 4 years.

My nephew is 8 or 9 and he LOVES to fish and can not wait to start hunting. He already has amazing morals towards hunting and life. The other day I was taking him home and he picked up a turkey feather off the truck floor and was looking at it (when ever I find a nice one I still cant restst dragging it back with me). i told him when the weather breaks I will take him scouting with me and he will be able to find a bunch of turkey feathers. His eyes lite up, I tell him if he wants he can keep that feather since I got more and he says "No uncle chuck I will find my own when you take me out". I thought wow how many kids his age wouldnt take the easy way. He actually understands the importence (at his age) of getting it your self and that the rewards are greater that way too, I told him so too.
hell I know guys who are my age and older who dont understand that!:)

I hope to be hunting deer for as long as im able. I hope to broaden my horizons a bit and go on a elk hunt out west some day.

[rob m.]

Our group consisted of five people; my dad, grandpa, uncle, myself and a friend. It is down to three now. Cancer took my grandpa in 2000 and my dad's friend now lives in Wisconsin (he did make it for a few days this year). I sometimes think about how eventually it will be just me and my uncle and then just me. We have such a good time in deer camp. The last few years have been pretty slow shooting wise but it is still all about camp for us. I hunt very hard, but I never get down because I don't get a deer. I just love being in the woods too much to worry about deer herd size or baiting regs. Very good thread!

[MGV]

I hate to say this guys but i am getting a little bored with deer hunting also. I get more excited with Rabbit or something that i can pull the trigger more than once. And i am only 25 years old. Fishing will always there. Even if it is a small fish. At least you get the excitement of catching as many fish as time allows.