Hunters Getting Older
- Thread starter cainesy
- Start date
How Ironic? I hunt with old guys who can get up in the morning, handle their booze, and can keep up when on the trails.
having that said, there is an entire following of the next generation. Step kids, nephews, and offspring of hunting pals. I don't know who says there are no new hunters? must never come to Alberta. I can't count how many youngsters I've brought to the range or have introduced to hunting and reloading.
My family and friends are doing our part. It must be others that are lacking.
.
- Location
- marmora ontario
Well I'm old guy in camp at 71...our youngest is 14 and....got his first deer ( and then another one walked out....he got that too!!!!
I can't keep up like I used to but I still get my deer. Jim
I can't keep up like I used to but I still get my deer. Jim
tactical870
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Buckhorn, Ontario
Not sure I agree with that. I figure my venison typically costs me about $25/lb. Based on what I spent on waterfowl hunting this year my geese cost me almost $1000 each.
In Newfoundland, age restrictions, along with C-68, are playing a major part in turning young people away.
You can't legally hunt, under adult supervision, with a firearm until age 16, and then only for small game. You must be 18 before you can hunt without supervision, and/or hunt big game.
The 'sweet spot' for recruiting new hunters is from age 8-14. Always forced in a tag-along position or restricted to snaring a few rabbits, many kids simply get bored - especially when they have so many other distractions such as the Internet, TV, video games, texting, chat rooms and the opposite ###.
By the late teens, unless they have had parents who made it a point to take them in the field, or come from a background that stresses hunting/fishing as part of their culture/heritage, chasing girls and a part-time job to earn money for a used car has a much higher priority for many.
Our Wildlife Dept. is to blame. They're stuck in the 1970s and are unwilling to change without someone holding a gun to their head.
Just look at how long it took for us to convince them to establish a coyote hunting season or permit Sunday hunting. They still won't permit crossbows.
What I find really funny is the fact that they've let our Woodland Caribou population essentially collapse, despite the warnings of hunters and outfitters for the past 10+ years...yet what do I find in a recent copy of North American Hunter magazine? A full-page colour ad promoting Woodland Caribou hunting in Newfoundland by the same dept. that allowed the population to collapse. Yeah, money well spent, just like the millions the spent 'studying' the caribou 'problem' - while the population continued a steady decline.
There is absolutley no reason why a 10-12 year old could not hunt under adult supervision. Tens of thousands do it every spring and fall in the US and in many mainland provinces without a problem. I fear, however, that by the time our Wildlife Dept. officials pull their heads out of their butts, the majority of those '53 year-olds' will be going to the bathroom in a diaper or in the ground, their kids will be non-hunters and their grandkids will be so far divorced from the land that they'll never give the concept of hunting a moment's consideration.
Those kids who still stick it out, face mountains of paperwork and the lack of available classroom slots to complete the required CFSC. In rural Newfoundland, potential students will often have to travel 50-100km in order to take the course. That is one-way, and will require multiple trips to do the whole course. It is even more difficult to complete the restricted course, as it is only offered in the larger centers such as St. Johns. Add in those costs, plus the cost of the license and the firearm and most kids are priced out of the 'market' without help from their parents.
The course should be free and considered an 'investment' in our youth by the Wildlife Dept. Give it another generation and they'll have to hire professional hunters to reduce moose populations to keep motorists happy.
You can't legally hunt, under adult supervision, with a firearm until age 16, and then only for small game. You must be 18 before you can hunt without supervision, and/or hunt big game.
The 'sweet spot' for recruiting new hunters is from age 8-14. Always forced in a tag-along position or restricted to snaring a few rabbits, many kids simply get bored - especially when they have so many other distractions such as the Internet, TV, video games, texting, chat rooms and the opposite ###.
By the late teens, unless they have had parents who made it a point to take them in the field, or come from a background that stresses hunting/fishing as part of their culture/heritage, chasing girls and a part-time job to earn money for a used car has a much higher priority for many.
Our Wildlife Dept. is to blame. They're stuck in the 1970s and are unwilling to change without someone holding a gun to their head.
Just look at how long it took for us to convince them to establish a coyote hunting season or permit Sunday hunting. They still won't permit crossbows.
What I find really funny is the fact that they've let our Woodland Caribou population essentially collapse, despite the warnings of hunters and outfitters for the past 10+ years...yet what do I find in a recent copy of North American Hunter magazine? A full-page colour ad promoting Woodland Caribou hunting in Newfoundland by the same dept. that allowed the population to collapse. Yeah, money well spent, just like the millions the spent 'studying' the caribou 'problem' - while the population continued a steady decline.
There is absolutley no reason why a 10-12 year old could not hunt under adult supervision. Tens of thousands do it every spring and fall in the US and in many mainland provinces without a problem. I fear, however, that by the time our Wildlife Dept. officials pull their heads out of their butts, the majority of those '53 year-olds' will be going to the bathroom in a diaper or in the ground, their kids will be non-hunters and their grandkids will be so far divorced from the land that they'll never give the concept of hunting a moment's consideration.
Those kids who still stick it out, face mountains of paperwork and the lack of available classroom slots to complete the required CFSC. In rural Newfoundland, potential students will often have to travel 50-100km in order to take the course. That is one-way, and will require multiple trips to do the whole course. It is even more difficult to complete the restricted course, as it is only offered in the larger centers such as St. Johns. Add in those costs, plus the cost of the license and the firearm and most kids are priced out of the 'market' without help from their parents.
The course should be free and considered an 'investment' in our youth by the Wildlife Dept. Give it another generation and they'll have to hire professional hunters to reduce moose populations to keep motorists happy.
Not sure I agree with that. I figure my venison typically costs me about $25/lb. Based on what I spent on waterfowl hunting this year my geese cost me almost $1000 each.
I cannot wait to show the mrs what a deal she got this year on my geese.She was upset telling me my last six cost her $250 each.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
In our camp the youngest guy that stayed for two weeks was, well, it was me.
I'm thinking I was the youngest man there period, no, there was a forty year old there for a few days.
We had a younger crew, but they all grew up, and married their electronic devices. One even married a woman.
We don't have cell coverage. That's near suicidal for some folks it seems.
One guy brought up two of his kids, and they spent their time parked on the couch playing some sort of electronic beeping game. He dragged them there. Soon as they were old enough, they came no more.
There are young folks who like to hunt, but It's scary how few they are. Seems like folks have a limited attention span now days.
I'm thinking I was the youngest man there period, no, there was a forty year old there for a few days.
We had a younger crew, but they all grew up, and married their electronic devices. One even married a woman.
We don't have cell coverage. That's near suicidal for some folks it seems.
One guy brought up two of his kids, and they spent their time parked on the couch playing some sort of electronic beeping game. He dragged them there. Soon as they were old enough, they came no more.
There are young folks who like to hunt, but It's scary how few they are. Seems like folks have a limited attention span now days.
I suspect here in AB it's pretty much the opposite. All kinds of young people hunting, lot's of older guys have quit.
I may be wrong, or maybe I just hunt in area's where there's mostly young people hunting, but I sure see lot's of young guys in their 20's.
Then again, maybe I'm just getting to be a geezer and everybody's starting to look young.
Next time you go to the range in the fall when the once a year shooters are sighting in look at the average age, I bet you in alberta it's in the 40's at least.
C Broad Arrow
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
That was one of the policy objectives of C-68. Reduce the number of the young hunters. Redce the numbers of "sportsmen", then combined with the definition of "sporting purposes" eliminate large classes of guns. In 20 years the two meet in the middle. no more sport hunters, therefore no need for guns for "sporting purposes".
well i am 25, and have several friends that hunt around the same age. one good friend has a son that is almost 4, got him one of those cheap bear kids bows and he loves to come out shooting with us. i can't wait until my son is old enough to shoot and hunt with me.
cant_rope_the_wind01
CGN Regular
- Location
- West central Alberta
I,m 50 and usually hunt alone , but when i do hunt with others its usually my daughter , and son in-law , or a few of their younger friends
, guess they like to hunt with me because i know all the ,(as they say, 
the good spots, and when they hunt with me there is usually animals tagged
) I like to hunt with them because the young guys don't mind packing out the meat
, guess they like to hunt with me because i know all the ,(as they say, the good spots, and when they hunt with me there is usually animals tagged) I like to hunt with them because the young guys don't mind packing out the meat
One of the key things is to make time for the next generation. I've seen many dads, uncles, and so on not make time for the next generation. They go off to their hunting trips with their buddies but when it comes time for their own kids they are back at work and don't have time.
On the other hand I've also seen a few kids with dads, and or other relatives who do make time. This year my the hunter safety class was bigger than I've seen it in a long time. I made sure my boy got that training and also wrote his firearms exam. He was 12 and did awesome on both so those who claim there is too much red tape need to put in that extra effort.
He guys the next generation of hunters are probably playing x-box in your living room right now. Just haul their arses from that TV and get them outdoors.
On the other hand I've also seen a few kids with dads, and or other relatives who do make time. This year my the hunter safety class was bigger than I've seen it in a long time. I made sure my boy got that training and also wrote his firearms exam. He was 12 and did awesome on both so those who claim there is too much red tape need to put in that extra effort.
He guys the next generation of hunters are probably playing x-box in your living room right now. Just haul their arses from that TV and get them outdoors.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
I have seen that too! Where the hunting group is so tight knit it is like getting into the Bilderberg group."Just a trip for the men" , either these type are too self centered or there are things going on they don't want the younger generation knowing about on these trips!
Then they wonder why the kids are acting out and betting into all kinds of trouble.
Teach a young person to handle a firearm safely and responsible hunter ethics you just may have the start of a normal functioning person down the road.
Then they wonder why the kids are acting out and betting into all kinds of trouble.
Teach a young person to handle a firearm safely and responsible hunter ethics you just may have the start of a normal functioning person down the road.
wheelin_ca
CGN Regular
- Location
- Simcoe County Ontario Canada
25 here
Family hunted, but growing up all i ever wanted to do was go fishing, so Dad kinda got out of hunting except for his annual moosehunt, which I was never old enough to go on.
the main reason I got so hooked on hunting was because of a job. Worked at basspro which payed for me to get my PAL. so I got my hunting course at the same time.... next thing I knew I was more about hunting than fishing.
So it was the firearm/hunting course........... They should offer it in High School.
Most of my friends dont hunt, so i am usually hunting alone
Family hunted, but growing up all i ever wanted to do was go fishing, so Dad kinda got out of hunting except for his annual moosehunt, which I was never old enough to go on.
the main reason I got so hooked on hunting was because of a job. Worked at basspro which payed for me to get my PAL. so I got my hunting course at the same time.... next thing I knew I was more about hunting than fishing.
So it was the firearm/hunting course........... They should offer it in High School.
Most of my friends dont hunt, so i am usually hunting alone
I am almost 23. In the last couple of years...
I jumped through all the hoops to get my Firearms licence (N/R and R)
I took all my courses to get my Core.
I got my Hunting card
Bought my licence
I have read so many books on hunting
watched videos on Hunting and field dressing
I even bought a truck (I drive a sports car) to get out to the hunting spots.
I have been in scouts since I was 5 and I am now a scout leader.
In this time I went out but only got a single grouse.
I would like to go for big game and even for water fowl.
But I don't want to go out by myself for the fact that it is unsafe, and lonely
I am also inexperienced. I don't want to make a mistake and have a CO make an example out of me.
This is a main reason that us youngsters are steering clear.
If anyone is interested in lending me some knowledge, I would love to pass it on.
Thank you
I jumped through all the hoops to get my Firearms licence (N/R and R)
I took all my courses to get my Core.
I got my Hunting card
Bought my licence
I have read so many books on hunting
watched videos on Hunting and field dressing
I even bought a truck (I drive a sports car) to get out to the hunting spots.
I have been in scouts since I was 5 and I am now a scout leader.
In this time I went out but only got a single grouse.
I would like to go for big game and even for water fowl.
But I don't want to go out by myself for the fact that it is unsafe, and lonely
I am also inexperienced. I don't want to make a mistake and have a CO make an example out of me.
This is a main reason that us youngsters are steering clear.
If anyone is interested in lending me some knowledge, I would love to pass it on.
Thank you
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
There are very very few opportunites for a deer hunter to come out ahead in cost.
ONCE in my lifetime of hunting, I could say at least I was ahead financially.
Walked to my hunting spot about 600 yards from my home, crossing one barb wire fence. Shot small buck at 9:30 AM on friend's property.
Dressed deer and walked back to my home to get the vehicle. Had deer cut/wrapped by 2 PM.
A rare event indeed..........
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Buy some landowner and topographical maps of the area that's known to produce your target species. Do some door knocking of private land owners well before the season opens so one is not "desperate" for hunting opportunities during big game season.
Be polite & stay friendly after some say no to your request. Believe me when I say you Do Not Want to be charged with "trepassing with a firearm" this will only lead to grief for all parties concerned.
Buy a compass and/or GPS and do some orienteering (casual & easy) daytime navigation exercises, in the off-season during the warmer months in an area known to yourself with many easily viewed referance points.
This will give you some experience in land navigation that will be highly valueable during hunting season.
Carry some basic survival gear such as safety matches, emergency blanket, knife (knives) small hatchet, small signal mirror, whistle, candy, water.
Always tell someone you trust your planned hunting trip and expected time of return, just in case.
Doesn't hurt to do alot more small game hunting before you do some big game hunting.
^Just because I said this last statement, does not mean this has to be so.^
Strive to become more and more proficient with your tool of harvest well before opening day, and keep it in good repair.
One of the hunter's most important assets is patience. You have a whole lifetime ahead of yourself to enjoy hunting.
Cheers!
Get involved in your local wildlife federation. Volunteer at events. You'll get to know many people who can help you out. It will take time but you will find opportunities. At places I have worked I always try to get to know new people and have met other hunters. Believe it or not there are a lot of guys out there hunting alone ( Myself on many occasions ) that would welcome a new hunter to come along as long as that person is trustworthy and has the proper ethics.
I once went with a fellow out after some birds. He shot me by accident ( Little injury because it was bird shot at over 50 yrds ) then showed up in the spots we went to a couple of weeks later with a pile of his buddies without so much as a thanks.
As long as you are not that guy you'll make some lifelong hunting buddies along the way. Keep at it as it will take a few years to find your way.
I live in Vancouver BC. What kind of events does the wildlife fed. Hold? I have not heard of any. I am part of a local gun club and I have been to many gun shows at the trade-x.
I have gone for snowshoe hare and grouse.
Anyone willing to take on a willing individual.
I have gone for snowshoe hare and grouse.
Anyone willing to take on a willing individual.
