Getting Harder to find younger hunters to commit?

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Originally Posted by blasted_saber

Slow clap. Bravo!

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*Bows* Thank you sir

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Originally Posted by pmannat

I'm standing on the outside looking in. I can't get an invite to go out for a day let alone a camp. Every hunter I've expressed an interest in hunting to has given me the cold shoulder. And I'm not that "weird" annoying Guy. Just an average 32yr old with a wife and kids. I'm a first Gen hunter. and so far between the mnr hoops I've had to jump through, and cold shoulders it just seems like an old boys club so far...

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Give it time and start switching gears. Become a member of a local open club (target range, Ducks Unlim, OFAH, etc) to be seen as an engaged and responsible member of the hunting/shooting community. A couple fundraisers and chats over coffees and you'll be in like Flynn.

The cold shoulders from landowners I can understand. People pay a fortune in property taxes, property upkeep, food plots, ground blinds & tree stands, etc... they're going to be resistant to inviting strangers to join them. Stick to public lands to start and build up good graces... eventually you'll get some invites.

I gave up offering assistance to newer hunters who were looking for places or experienced tutoring. I offered my camp for nothing and my time. All were full of p & v at the start but not one ever made the final commitment to come this far for a trip that would have cost them basically their gas to get here and some food for their stay.
I understand distance and time is a factor but both are excuses.

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Originally Posted by sawbill

I understand distance and time is a factor but both are excuses.

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I find that odd. To me, part of the attractiveness of hunting is getting as far away from the city as possible. Couldn't imagine limiting my hunting opportunities only to what's available within a 1/2 drive (which is zip, zilch, zero).

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Originally Posted by Oddmott

*Bows* Thank you sir



Give it time and start switching gears. Become a member of a local open club (target range, Ducks Unlim, OFAH, etc) to be seen as an engaged and responsible member of the hunting/shooting community. A couple fundraisers and chats over coffees and you'll be in like Flynn.

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Thanks Oddmott, I really appreciate to advice.
The OFAH idea sounds great! I don't have the $$ for a range club yet, I generally get by using my sister's hobby farm, but I don't like to as it's small (narrow 7 acre) with horses on one side and the 402 on the other.

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Originally Posted by pmannat

Thanks Oddmott, I really appreciate to advice.
The OFAH idea sounds great! I don't have the $$ for a range club yet, I generally get by using my sister's hobby farm, but I don't like to as it's small (narrow 7 acre) with horses on one side and the 402 on the other.

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OFAH is good for a few reasons, but not for meeting people.

Try to get out to a Rod and Gun club or something like that, you will actually talk to people, not just converse online, in person helps.

As a young hunter myself I have numerous friends who express interest in hunting and tell me they want to get their licenses etc, however none of them make the commitment. I think it has something to do with my generation. People are less likely to take a risk and dive into something that may intimidate them. I am fortunate to have an excellent mentor in my uncle, as well as a group of guys my age who are as committed to the field as I am (who I networked with through the OOD Community). I hope to eventually encourage some of my non-hunting friends into the sport, and have no problem mentoring them as I was, but will not babysit or put up with non-commitment when it counts...

Interesting article from the RealTree web blog about attitude by some towards young hunters, I'm not saying it relates up here in Canada as things are a little different.

http://www.realtree.com/hunting/real...uth-hunt-hater

For myself I started hunting with a gun and bow later in life at 47. I have been into wilderness travel on foot and canoe most of my life and as a nature/landscape photographer as well as wildlife. My father hunted all his life until he passed away in 2012 and left me his share of a hunt camp, I didn't have an interest in hunting before but when the opportunity presented itself I dove in. The transition for me was very easy both from a knowledge of habitat and game, although there was still a lot to learn. I'm certainly not young by any standards but at hunt camp, I'm the young buck...

I have 2 boys 13 and 18, I offered them the opportunity to start hunting, my youngest jumped aboard right away with my oldest not interested at first, I didn't push it but talked with him about all aspects of hunting both with our relationship and what I missed all those years not joining my father during his hunting years. Both my boys are well connected to the electronic/social media age and at times it does rule their lives, more-so with my older son, I always offer them to bring a friend when we go up as a family. On a recent trip to the camp for some grouse hunting with friends and family it was like pulling teeth to get my oldest to come but he did, we made the weekend fun by doing some trap shooting mixed in with ATV'ing and a few grouse, which my youngest took his first grouse. A couple days after we were home, to my surprise my oldest asked when the next firearms/hunter ed course was as he decided he would like to try. When I asked him why he said he had a good time, inside I feel he may have felt left out at times.

As far as expense for hunting, it can be as expensive as you want or as cheap as you can make it. Todays shows and marketing tell us we need all this equipment. You don't need an ATV, Truck and a locker full of guns.

okay well lets talk base prices then..

I have an older friend that got his FAC from the police chief in town by going in and shaking his hand...

For me now adays:

PAL course = $250
Hunt Course = $150
RCMP Background check = $65
outdoors card = $$
Tags = $$
turkey course DVD = $35
Turkey dummy test = $35+


oh wait! I don't even have a gun yet = $$$$$ , nor gear = $$$$$,

Okay know I spent all that, but I still haven't even hunted yet....

Worth every penny, maybe

Cheap as ~I~ make it.... No

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Originally Posted by pmannat

okay well lets talk base prices then..

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Tell me any outdoor hobby that you can get into it for less than a $1K.... ( don't really I'm just making a point). Crap you can't even buy a good mountain bike for that anymore.

Look what guys spend on fishing....and few even bring home the fish they catch (release). Nothing for the freezer.

If you pinching pennies, hobbies/sports in general will be a luxury, few are cheap.

I think pmannat's point stands... while many hobbies or outdoor activities can be expensive, hunting is the only one that is prohibitively expensive, before you've even able to plant your boots in the dirt.

$1500 for education, testing, gov't process & paperwork, tags and very basic gear (ie: a budget/used firearm and a blaze vest). That doesn't include clothes to keep one warm or dry, doesn't include a "nice" firearm, doesn't include travel, etc.

I bought a GREAT Trek 4-Series mountain bike. MRSP $800-$900 and I got mine on-sale for $530 +tax. Add a $30 helmet and i'm set to take part in a great outdoor adventure for just over $600.

I've been looking to get into canoeing or kayaking... there are TOO many options of great boats for around $600-$800.

Camping... i have 2 tents, flys & tarps, multiple mattresses, stoves, blades, etc all for under $500 total. The only thing i'm missing is an excursion grade backpack.

If i was only interested in enjoying the outdoors... I could essentially take up 3 other hobbies for the cost it takes to be able to hunt.