Decline in Hunters??

[Brandon7]

I read the article that someone posted about the DNR proposing rules on the crossbow hunting seasons etc. They mention the decline of archery hunters. ((((Decline in hunters is hard to believe. Everytime ya go rabbit hunting, probaby going to see other hunters. Deer hunting state land (are you kidding me) Waterfowling--yeah im the only one on the water!:lol: Maybe according to license sales... but not everyone buys a license. What are some of your opinions??? I dont think I would mind a decline in hunters in this state? Now dont go right to the topic of decline in hunters=decline in license sales=decline in revenue for improving habitat etc.= decline in hunter participation or future of hunting. Number of people in Michigan that hunt, is very high.. and I dont think I would mind the woods being a little less empty. What are your thoughts or opinions?

[GrizzlyHunter]

What came first...the chicken or the egg? The decline in Michigan's deer herd or the decline in Michigan's deer hunters?

Where I hunt in Da' Western UP they are both noticably down.

[Brandon7]

I'm not talking about the decline in Michigans deer herd....Maybe I typed too much, The whole point of this is that I wouldnt mind fewer hunters in the woods, and wanted your opinions ((hopefully this paragraph isnt that confusing.)):rolleyes:

[DANIEL MARK ZAPOLSKI]

I'm not talking about the decline in Michigans deer herd....Maybe I typed too much, The whole point of this is that I wouldnt mind fewer hunters in the woods, and wanted your opinions ((hopefully this paragraph isnt that confusing.)):rolleyes:

so you would impose more restrictions to get less hunters so you could have the woods to yourself ? i could care less about who hunts where and with what as long as they are legal. there is plenty of land to go around if people just treat others with respect in the woods or on the water. i run into people all the time and make sure i give them room to hunt or fish, theres plenty of game out there to be had. like the old addage first come first served thats the rule i obide by.
one thing that enoys me is when i am out fishing on lake huron in 120 fow. i am the only boat for miles and some nit wit comes out and runs a course 300yards away from me in the same pattern.:dizzy: or some clowns come out on opening day of duck or deer and sit down in your lap and decide all the game in the woods or air is going right to you and no where else.:dizzy:

[2PawsRiver]

Don't worry Brandon, I understood what you meant. By all means I hope everybody that wants to hunt or fish, gets to hunt or fish, but it wouldn't hurt my feelings to have a little more space in the wood or on the water.

Most guys have never experience that kind of environment. Spend 8 days fishing Wyoming, didn't see another fisherman. Spent two days on a river in Alaska, the only fishermen I saw were big and furry.

Many outdoorsmen consider company on the water or in the woods normal.

[Brandon7]

OK, let me re-word this one more time. I WOULDNT MIND IF THEIR WERE LESS HUNTERS IN THE WOODS, SINCE THE AMOUNT OF HUNTERS IN MICHIGAN ARE HIGH. WHAT ARE YOUR OPINIONS? (impose restrictions?) where the heck did that come from.

[Brandon7]

2PawsRiver, I jumped up and down when I got your response. Thats what I was looking for. :D:lol: didnt think it was that hard of a question(guess it was to some!:dizzy::yikes:

[Brandon7]

we all of a sudden got talking about chickens, and eggs, and imposing restrictions to have the woods to myself.:dizzy::lol::lol:

[Trophy Specialist]

According to the DNR, the number of deer hunters actually increased in 2008 compared to 2007. The number of overall deer licenses sold also increased.

[Brandon7]

Really, glad you said that because ive had friends,,, and also a guy that i work with that was a DNR officer for a while also commented on a decline of hunters. Seems that everyone has their own opinions on stuff, and to get facts is very hard to come by.

[Trophy Specialist]

I was actaully shocked when I read that the number of deer hunters had inceased in MI in 2008. I thought that with the economy, the MI population shrinkage, and high fure prices that we'd see a big drop in hunter numbers but it apears not to be the case. For a number of years it had been decreasing slightly every year until 2008. Another fact that suprises a lot of people is accoding to DNR stats, youth deer hunter numbers have been on the increase in MI for a number of years in a row. Women hunter numbers are also said to be increasing every year. Small game and waterfowl hunter numbers have continued to fall though.

[Whit1]

Now dont go right to the topic of decline in hunters=decline in license sales=decline in revenue for improving habitat etc.= decline in hunter participation or future of hunting.



What are your thoughts or opinions?

From what you posted above you really don't want opinions unless they agree with yours.

It's simple data. The number of hunters in MI as well as in most states is down over the past ten years. There's no way to get around that fact. The main exception to this is in the SLP's deer hunting. Numbers indeed are declining, but in the past twenty years more hunter effort has been applied to the SLP, but keep in mind this is on private property for the most part.

It seems that you desire fewer hunters in order to hunt in, what you might call "peace". While I understand and might agree with the "peace" part reality tells us that fewer hunters means less revenue for the DNR and other..................opps!............I forgot that I ain't 'posed ta talk 'bout that stuff. Sorry!

[Liver and Onions]

According to the DNR, the number of deer hunters actually increased in 2008 compared to 2007. The number of overall deer licenses sold also increased.

Where were you able to find 2008 numbers ? It shouldn't take long for the DNR to come up with this information, but they were still selling licenses 2 weeks ago.

L & O

[Brandon7]

Whit1 were not talking about revenue.. just if you would like fewer hunters :lol: Moderators close this Thread...I started something bad im sorry. end this pain.:eek:

[cadillacjethro]

Before they (the Mods) end it (the pain), let me voice my seldom accepted opinion. I don't think there are to many hunters or fisherpersons in Michigan. I don't know why someone would want to keep this kind of enjoyment to themselves. Selfish? If I don't want to see other people I just walk further.

[Skinner 2]

I read the article that someone posted about the DNR proposing rules on the crossbow hunting seasons etc. They mention the decline of archery hunters. ((((Decline in hunters is hard to believe. Everytime ya go rabbit hunting, probaby going to see other hunters. Deer hunting state land (are you kidding me) Waterfowling--yeah im the only one on the water!:lol: Maybe according to license sales... but not everyone buys a license. What are some of your opinions??? I dont think I would mind a decline in hunters in this state? Now dont go right to the topic of decline in hunters=decline in license sales=decline in revenue for improving habitat etc.= decline in hunter participation or future of hunting. Number of people in Michigan that hunt, is very high.. and I dont think I would mind the woods being a little less empty. What are your thoughts or opinions?

Seems like you need to get away from the sight of the road. I have spent years bowhunting state land around Houghton Lake in the peak hunting period. I would only see 1 or at best two other hunters the whole deer seasons. Driving the roads sure I would see lots of cars parked.

Same for birds. Spent a lot of time chasing pat and woodcock on state ground Had it to myself too. It's there go look for it. I can also say the same for the UP for deer Rifle season. I saw one guy in the woods the whole time I hunted there. HE was happy as heck when he saw me. He was lost and wanted to know where a road was. He never came back in.

Now chasing coyote in zone 3 on state game areas YUP people all over. I decided to find new places to hunt in zone 3. Now I don't see anybody for the most part of the winter while I call coyotes.

Skinner

[skipper34]

Seems like you need to get away from the sight of the road. I have spent years bowhunting state land around Houghton Lake in the peak hunting period. I would only see 1 or at best two other hunters the whole deer seasons. Driving the roads sure I would see lots of cars parked.

Same for birds. Spent a lot of time chasing pats and woodcock on state ground Had it to myself too. It's there go look for it. I cal also say the same for the UP for deer Rifle season. I saw one guy in teh woods the whole time I hunted there. HE was happy as heck when he saw me. He was lost and wanted to know where a road was. He never came back in.

Now chasing coyote in zone 3 on state game areas YUP people all over. I decided to find new places to hunt in zone 3. Now I don't see anybody for the most part of the winter while I call coyotes.

Skinner

I have been on bowhunts on public land in the UP for a week and never saw another person, let alone another hunter. This past October my son and I spent a week in the NLP on public land while bowhunting and we never saw another hunter, bowhunter or otherwise.

[November Sunrise]

Truly amazing that anyone should be so shortsighted as to not understand the implications of what reduced hunters will translate to in regards to the future of hunting.

[wally-eye]

Maybe somebody needs to join this guys group.......:dizzy:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=270070

[Skinner 2]

Truly amazing that anyone should be so shortsighted as to not understand the implications of what reduced hunters will translate to in regards to the future of hunting.

115% spot on! What future!

Skinner

[peva4me]

Truly amazing that anyone should be so shortsighted as to not understand the implications of what reduced hunters will translate to in regards to the future of hunting.

Its amazing that states/provinces with lower hunter numbers and less money have incredible hunting. I am all for less hunters, plain and simple, we have way too many hunters for the amount of land we have. Just look at all of the complaining on this site about other hunters. I truely enjoy hunting in other states where I can hunt the game and not worry about hunting around other hunters.
Additional seasons and hunters are only about the revenue, not at all about managing wildlife. The state wants to make as much money as it can and then look for ways to skim off the top for other programs.

[cadillacjethro]

Its amazing that states/provinces with lower hunter numbers and less money have incredible hunting. I am all for less hunters, plain and simple, we have way too many hunters for the amount of land we have. Just look at all of the complaining on this site about other hunters. I truely enjoy hunting in other states where I can hunt the game and not worry about hunting around other hunters.
Additional seasons and hunters are only about the revenue, not at all about managing wildlife. The state wants to make as much money as it can and then look for ways to skim off the top for other programs.

Most of the complaining about other hunters has to do with the lack of people skills seemingly unavailable to them, doesn't it? If you are seeing other folks, hunters especially, you need to spend more time finding out where they ain't. ;)

[fulldraw]

This year I have seen the most hunters I have seen in the woods that is for gun deer season. I do believe the numbers speak for themselves that Michigan has the most licensed bow hunters in the Midwest per acre, I got that from an article in North American Hunting Magazine. They may have been a drop in license sales this year do to the economy but I think this is just the start of what is to come for the decline in hunters do to the economy. I hate to say that but do believe it to be true.

[Trophy Specialist]

Where were you able to find 2008 numbers ? It shouldn't take long for the DNR to come up with this information, but they were still selling licenses 2 weeks ago.

L & O
I spoke to the DNR's Deer Specialist on Monday and got the info from him.

[Quack Wacker]

Fewer jobs = fewer hunters

[Liver and Onions]

I spoke to the DNR's Deer Specialist on Monday and got the info from him.

Thanks, I believe that Rod Clute holds that title. I think I will wait until I see the numbers in print before I quote that information. So far, I don't see where that press release has been made.

L & O

[onenationhere]

Opening day of gun season was on a weekend in 2008 thats why there were more people in the woods,its going to be a sunday for 09 hopefully we can maintain some strong numbers in 09 also but after that I feel the numbers will fall again,people cant afford to take time off anymore.If you read some other posts a lot of people that live in hunting hot spots up north said that after the weekend opener the woods were pretty quiet,guys left camp to return to work.You may get your wish soon but it isnt a good thing,we need as many people as we can get.

[GrizzlyHunter]

From what you posted above you really don't want opinions unless they agree with yours.


:yeahthat:

That was the same impression I was getting. Since my opinion apparently doesn't agree with the thread poster I'll just stop now.

[Trophy Specialist]

Thanks, I believe that Rod Clute holds that title. I think I will wait until I see the numbers in print before I quote that information. So far, I don't see where that press release has been made.

L & O

I don't blame you. I found it hard to believe as well when he told me that the hunter numbers were up in 2008. I do though also remember reading the same thing in a newspaper article a while back, so I'm not the only that got that info.

[Big50blaster]

I have heard a lot of guys say that they were going to start trying to take more game to put food on the table. Maybe that is why tag sales were up for 2008. Sitting in the woods is also pretty cheap entertainment.