Getting Harder to find younger hunters to commit?

I mentioned this before: I go to the Gun Auction in Perth every year..the place is full of young hunters..75-100 most nights.

There are lots of guns from Mil-Surp bolt actions to Semi-Auto to 300 Winmags......the young guys rarely ever buy up the bolt action .303 etc...even though they are good guns and sell for around $100.....they all hold out for the synthetic camo stocked scope mounted rifles. They go for $400+, lots in the $600 range...

So they can't complain they don't have the money to get into hunting...it appears it has to be the best (coolest) guns for them.

Gee thanks for all the replys....
Our group is just back after a remote 3 week hunt in 18a. Now that we are back we will continue to evolve and work to improve the camp for next year. Input from the other members will be considered to make necessary changes to make for a more comfortable camp next year. But my camp started because i was the junior guy in someone elses camp. To show my gratitude i showed up to work weekend details, worked on the camp itself,(interior renovations) then went swimming for the downed moose. after the moose was hanging i asked if i could return home as i am a contractor and was newly married with small children. I was told if i didn t stay to the end of camp to close up i wouldn t get any of the animal. I chose to keep good blood between the camp owner and myself and decided to give up the meat to keep my friends. During that long drive home i decided that I would no longer return to that camp. That winter i bought a used school bus and coverted it to a very comfortable mobile camp. Each year more equipment is added to make less work for the group. As time and temperatures changed a i purchased an enclosed trailer and changed it to accomadate a commerical reffer unit on it , boat rack, atv position and even a washing machine! I find the more effort i put into the bus down here the more time we have in the bush, or just to sit and chew the fat. The fires in the evening are great to see the northern lights. Each fella without being asks, contributes in some way or form, from cooking , dishes or cleaning. Building the camp is a days chore as is the tear down. but the memories in between last a lifetime. As the group ages,we would like to convince a younger go getter to come along this is a tough challenge. As i have read the expressed concerns from both young and old i ponder the tought of asking another into camp. When the group fuctions well and there are no slackers (young or old) we have a great time hunting , fishing and birding. Thats why we go for so long :) I took for granted that another hunter would jump at the opportunity to come to an established group that has knowledge of the area they hunt, knowledge and equipment to harvest an animal and just generally has fun. I have been sadly mistaken in the last five years. We have had to ask as many not to return as we have had, a theif and cheat, a compulsive liar, a couple of drunks, a terrible lazy slacker so i agree with the coment there are Hunters and folks that go hunting. I need only a hunter.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I mentioned this before: I go to the Gun Auction in Perth every year..the place is full of young hunters..75-100 most nights.

There are lots of guns from Mil-Surp bolt actions to Semi-Auto to 300 Winmags......the young guys rarely ever buy up the bolt action .303 etc...even though they are good guns and sell for around $100.....they all hold out for the synthetic camo stocked scope mounted rifles. They go for $400+, lots in the $600 range...

So they can't complain they don't have the money to get into hunting...it appears it has to be the best (coolest) guns for them.

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With all due respect to the Lee Enfield (I own two) they arent the greatest hunting rifle. The are a tad heavy, unless the barrel has been cut they are long, they have an awkward mount for a scope, and 303 ammo isnt getting any cheaper (for comparison soft point ammo in 308 is typically 60-75% of the price of a box of 303 brit).

If I needed a rock solid rifle to last me a century or more, and withstand harsh conditions, the LE 303 is at the top of the list. But as a primary hunting rifle they are not. They are also above the 270 limit for those int he south whom may be looking for a multi purpose rifle.

I think you missed the point.....hunting like everything else can be done cheaper if you don't set your 'wish' list to high...using Grandpa's old bolt action until you can afford a new rifle is better than whining that you can't afford to go hunting. Peer pressure and TV advertising sets the bar too high for some guys budgets.

I agree everybody wants and has to have the very best equipment these days. From $1200 guns to $600 jackets. Forna first year person that alone is a huge expense. But it is so hard to get people to commit a week of their time to go hunting. Which in my mind is the most relaxing week of the year lol.

You don't need to spend thousands to go hunting. I have other responsibilities in life and obviously my funds are not unlimited. I do have quite a few guns that I have purchased or received over time. My most recent purchases were a SKS for plinking and a Mossberg 535. I made my own Goose Decoys. My tents one I purchased for 50 a 10 man as my 20 year old one finally gave up the ghost. I have a two man for myself that I bought 25 years ago. My Coleman stoves and lanterns I purchased on Kijiji for like 20.00 Every year I spend no more then 40.00 on fishing equipment gear most times only 20 bucks. I repair old stuff. Some things like axes and saw can be purchased at yard sales for next to nothing something I just pick up I don't know where. In fact I have never bought a ladder yet I have 3 found them squashed on the road took them home and repaired them 1 16 foot ladder, a folding multi step ladder and a saw horse ladder rope I buy at the dollar store same with those tie downs and bungee cords.

If your on a strict budget you can still afford to hunt. The only tough part to eliminate is the transportation part very difficult to find fuel. Although I did think of getting a diesel and using some vegetable oil. :)

Oh by the way now that I have put a few boxes through the Mossberg 535 I'm very happy with it. The gun cost me delivered I think 440.00 with a barrel, slug barrel and 3 chokes.

the cost of our three week excursion was 800 per man all in fuel, grocries, and propane i just read this and i found it to be true... the most relaxing time of the year.

But you don't have to spend 800.00 for a hunting. I do 3-5 trips of camping spring, summer and fall camping and fishing I do a bit of grouse hunting if I go up late hunting. Each trip run's me 200 - 300 These trips are anyplace from 2 nights upto 6 nights all together around 1000.00.. I could hunt bear up there at the same time if I wanted. I do my duck and goose, duck and deer within 20 km of my house. If I couldn't afford to fish up by Algonquin I wouldn't. One thing I do is look for potential hunting areas every place I go regulatory that's as close as possible. I don't buy the expensive shells you don't have to have them just watch you shots more carefully. I think I buy Winchesters BB 12 gauge for about 17.00 with tax. Over the years I have built up a useful supply of equipment for most things. But to be honest it has probably made me some what lazey. I use to user a double bladed ax probably from 12 years until I was about 43. Then for some reason I decided to bring the chainsaw. Made me lazy. If you have the interest you can find the way.

Ask around wait be patience, watch forums like this one meet people and you will find others to hunt with. I have actually hunted with a fella I was discussing hunting with while buying ammo waiting for the guy at Walmart.

Oh yeah and if your younger them me (under 31) we make you younger guy's carry the decoy's and clean the gun's :).

I'm a 24 year old hunter trying to get in with a hunting group for anything from grouse to moose hunting. I am having a hard time trying to get in because in my area they are either full or have an over abundance of rules and regulation. Such as having to hunt with the person who invited me. Yet he can only hunt a few hours here and there through the week, where I want to be out everyday all day for the whole week

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Originally Posted by CaseyMcIntyre

or have an over abundance of rules and regulation. Such as having to hunt with the person who invited me. Yet he can only hunt a few hours here and there through the week, where I want to be out everyday all day for the whole week

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It's tough, but rules are there for a reason...someone caused the camp to feel to need to make them :)

If you balking at them even before you join, your probably better off trying something else.