Youth Hunter Numbers

Eric Patterson

Eric Patterson

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Staff member
So I've pondered a bit lately on local hunter numbers and observations over my own hunting career. The state biologist tells me that while nationwide youth hunter numbers have dropped, our particular state saw an increase in youth and adults (our annual state stamp sales have significantly increased while strangely HIP card counts haven't tracked with stamps according to a USF&WS report I viewed recently. Not sure what to make of that unless state stamp collectors are inflating counts and I really doubt that). Being active with Thomas and his friends as they went from elementary school age to college age adults I saw a similar trend to that of my own youth. That being a lot of kids trying the sport but only a subset sticking with it in their 20s. Now my son and his friends tell me unequivocally their group of peers was loaded with duck hunters. But they also tell me very few kids are behind them in age duck hunt at all. This is sort of the feeling I get when I talk to other adults about their kid's activities. So in my small little world it seems like there is an emerging drop in youth duck hunting after a pretty good run of kids getting in the sport. I know there was a USF&WS study on this a few years back that showed a major decline and then somewhat of a recovery but I am wondering if youth hunter participation is once again falling off.

What are you seeing in your area?

Eric
 
This statistic was mentioned in an article here in SC in 2018. South Carolina is a state steeped in hunting tradition and we continue to lose hunters. .

Nearly 17 million people hunted across the country in the early 1980s. In 2016, 2 million fewer people did, even though the population grew by 100 million.
 
Eric, for a number of reasons I wouldn't compare state stamp sales to HIP registrations. There are a number of technical issues that I won't bore you with in comparing those 2 measures but they aren't necessarily measuring the same population. Nevertheless the number of hunters overall continues to decline from a high in 1970. https://djcase.com/sites/default/files/chronicle-files/ducksurvey_national.pdf. Fish and Wildlife agencies continue to study why but it looks like major societal changes are the likely reasons. I think we have seen some the rate of decline slow in younger segments due to mass media or social media attention, but I am concerned that those larger changes in our society will continue and that we need to work at increasing youth hunters, work to maintain access so people have a place to hunt, and spreading the word that hunting is safe and does not harm the populations while providing a good source of food. I am trying to stay positive but we our work cut out.
 
Brad

Thanks for your insights. I read that report a number of years back and am reviewing it again. Even though the report is 15 years old the Exec Summary still seems to jive with things I hear and read today but it certainly would be interesting to see how today's number compare.

You mentioned the need for access so people have a place to hunt. Here in my own state I've been frustrated by management decisions to impose new rules that limit access on WMAs. For example closing large, or perhaps the better, areas of the WMA each week. This especially curtails hunting opportunity while kids are on Christmas break. On the days the areas are open crowds soar (people sleep all night at the ramp and wait in long lines to launch their boat only to jam into the better hunting locations) thus diminishing the experience for all, in my opinion. In my best estimation adding access restrictions resulted in funneling people into the same areas and created crowding issues of the likes I've not seen in many years. I think they have it backwards. Instead of placing access restrictions I think the managers instead should have increased the number of access points and utilized all days in an effort to spread hunters out rather than concentrate them. I firmly believe more rules and rules that concentrate hunters are counterproductive to hunter satisfaction and in turn hunter recruitment. Obviously they are attempting to increase hunter success rates while providing habitat for ducks, and maybe they will accomplish both, but when it is all said and done I think the aggravations created by more restrictions discourage hunters. There are any number of simpler less complicated leisure pursuits available to today's youth.

My buck fifty....
 
Eric,

In regards to access, I see this in my areas also. Many of the spots I frequent in both waterfowl and other hunting, are on parcels of land only accessible down a narrow one lane dead end road to the parking lot. During the winter months it may be a week or more before the road is opened up after a snow fall. Even without snow conditions it is difficult to meet and bypass another vehicle.

In three different hunting locations, the access lanes have been permanently closed at the main road. This creates a problem because now, there is no place to park a vehicle. At most, one or two may be able to park on the shoulder of the roadway.

One area which is owned and maintained by the county, has an old quarry pit, open grassland as well as timber, is popular with deer, turkey and squirrel hunters. Everyone has to park at the main highway (spots for 6 vehicles) and walk the 1/2 mile to get into the area. UNLESS you are a member of the scuba club. Which means you can pick up a key at the scuba shop, unlock the gate and drive right up to the parking lot at the pit. Apparently hunters are 2nd class citizens.

Similar thing at another multi use area. Gates are open for everyone to drive in during most of the year, 1/2 mile long, narrow strip of land drive, before it widens out. Everyone drives in and parks in a common area. Come hunting season, one must park at the gate next to the highway. For many years this area was open to hunting purposes, any time there was an open season. Now it has a restricted time schedule as well. I suspect in a few more years, this area will no longer be available for hunters to utilize under any circumstances. The really sad thing, is the original landowner bequeathed the land specifically for hunting, but the language has been picked apart by the county. Seems as long as they allow as little as one day of hunting per year, they are in compliance with the terms under which the land was donated. Common sense would tell anyone that this was not the intent of the original owner. Can you tell, this pisses me off to no end?
 
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Access for sure is a major problem where I live. Much of the habitat is just not there any longer, agriculture has ground it up. Food first for a growing world wide population, and conservation whenever...

Young folks can no longer go down the road, or a place nearby, toss out a few decoys and hunt. The hunt for big antlers is first and foremost, and that really limits access.

Some states that I've hunted the DEC works out a deal with farmers and land owners. They pay the landowner and help in other ways, to allow hunters to access their land. All the hunter has to do is register with the landowner, so their is accountability. It works, and is a no brainer, but a tough sell to get it done.


Also without the foundation of small game hunting all aspects of hunting suffer. Time was a young person became good at small game and waterfowl hunting, before going for turkey and deer.

One paid their dues before going to the big leagues. Now they go on youth day, shoot a longbeard, or a 8 point buck. Think "well this is easy" and they walk away from hunting. I have seen this more than once so I know that it does happen, and more often than folks think.


Each year my friends and I do our best to encourage, and inspire young folks to waterfowl hunt. Each year it is a tough sell, especially if no one in their family hunts waterfowl.

The NY DEC has a very good waterfowl ID class that NY hunters must take if they wan to hunt on some public areas. Problem is the classes are very few and spread out over a large area.
Having the classes in schools would be much better, but hunting, guns, and school sends parents off the deep end these days.

From what I have witnessed over many years is.

What the parents, family, and friends hunt, is what the young people go for. Therefore we need to recruit new older, or "used to be waterfowl hunters", if we want to have a brighter future.


I made it a point to hunt first day of duck this year (something I have not done in years). We have birds, wet lands, marshes, ponds, lakes, and posted signs aplenty. I was shocked that the only shooting we heard all morning was ours. In all my years hunting in the east that was a first, and a alarm bell sounding of our future.

We can discuss and mull over this situation until we are blue in the face, but we must figure out how to improve it ASAP.

my 2 cents
 


NY Outdoor News arrived today in the mail.

"Senior resident hunting licenses continue to increase 7-16% annually. Resident Junior hunting licenses were down 15%, compared to 2018, continuing a trend of the last decade."

Hatin' on Boomers is in now.

When we are gone, the Poop Hits The Propellers concerning hunting & fishing.
 
Vince

What ages fall under a Junior Resident license? Anyone under 16 in AL requires no license. Over the age of 65 and you don't need a license. Everyone in-between does.

Eric
 

Eric -

The Junior hunting ages in NY are ages 12-15.

The 12 -13 age has certain rules, and regs that must be followed.

The 14 -15 age has certain rules, and regs that must be followed.

12 - 15 the license is Free.

16 - 69 base license fee, for residents is $22. (tags, stamps, for certain game are extra).


Now here is real kicker.

The Senior hunting age is 70. That is correct 70!


Seems to be about fudging numbers, and making as much money off longtime hunters as possible. Especially with hunter numbers declining.

If the Senior hunting age in NY was 62 - 65, (like many states) the Senior hunting license sales percentage would be even greater than it is
.

Having lived in PA for 60 1/2 years, 70 sounded crazy to me.

I made many inquires as why the age was so high for a Senior license?

All answers boiled down to - "When NY started selling Lifetime Licenses at a low price. The powers that be knew they would loose money. The way to make the money back, was to have the Senior license age 70."

I was also told. "Why didn't you buy a Lifetime license like everyone else when they were cheap?"

I did not live here then. DUH!


SOoooooo next year after buying hunting licenses every year since 1962, I become a Senior Hunter.[smile]


Best regards
Vince
 
Vince

Thanks for the breakout. When I was a freshman in high school a lifetime license was $75. I should have bought it then. The next year they jumped to $200 and I don't even know what they are now. A real benefit to buying one is if you move away it is still good. Missed opportunity!

Eric
 
Eric Patterson said:
Vince

Thanks for the breakout. When I was a freshman in high school a lifetime license was $75. I should have bought it then. The next year they jumped to $200 and I don't even know what they are now. A real benefit to buying one is if you move away it is still good. Missed opportunity!

Eric
Click to expand...

Same here, didn't think I would stay in AL so I didn't buy the lifetime when it was cheap!
 
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