Hunters remain a powerful force in American society, as evidenced by the presidential candidates who routinely pay them homage, but their ranks are shrinking dramatically and wildlife agencies worry increasingly about the loss of sorely needed license-fee revenue.
New figures from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service show that the number of hunters 16 and older declined by 10 percent between 1996 and 2006 — from 14 million to about 12.5 million. The drop was most acute in New England, the Rocky Mountains, and the Pacific states, which lost 400,000 hunters in that span.
“To recruit new hunters, it takes hunting families,” said Gregg Patterson of Ducks Unlimited. “I was introduced to it by my father, he was introduced to it by his father. When you have boys and girls without a hunter in the household, it’s tough to give them the experience.”
The Humane Society welcomed the new federal data showing a surging number of birdwatchers, wildlife photographers and other wildlife watchers. They increased from 62.8 million in 1996 to 71.1 million in 2006, spending $45 billion on their activities compared to $75 billion spent by hunters and anglers.
I don’t hunt or fish anymore because I’m an old fart who would rather just go for a walk with our dogs. But, one of the factors suggested in the article is interesting.
Where and when I grew up, we fished to eat. I have old friends here in the Rockies who would be concerned for their family’s annual diet if they didn’t get that one elk every season.
But, most of the young members of my extended family plan on writing code or designing new concepts in cyber engineering – to provide necessities as well as treats. They’re really not interested in killing for “sport”. I wonder if that will ever extend to politics?
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You have to blame the rich for that matter, who eats raw salted fish eggs, PAN FRIED morbidly obese goose’s livers & turd shaped, dirt tasting, pussy scented mushrooms?
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All valid points, although it doesn’t change my conclusion. There will be more hunters(numerically) even though they are a smaller percentage of the population. The price of safe meat is double that of factory-farmed.
I’ve caught my own fish for years but I’ve been thinking about hunting more recently. After reading “Fast Food Nation” and watching “The Future of Food” I’m thinking I’d rather kill my own meat… of course I’m in Canada so it’s a little easier here.
BTW decimate is to kill one in ten, we’ve done far better than that.
My son and I stopped hunting simply because the Louisiana wildlife and fisheries have mismanaged the wildlife in our stae. They have catured to big buisness instead of whitetail deer. Most of our deer have been killed out due to stupid management programs.