Getting Harder to find younger hunters to commit?

[LiveBates]

GW, you looking for a gang for deer? rifle, 2nd week, Brudenell. Might have one more spot to fill. We run the hounds.

[lazyman]

I'll say this for what everyone hopes is the last time. Hunting (And I use that word in it's loosest sense) with Bucketboy or Lazyman is garaunteed to leave You wishing You hadn't

all I have to say is who is hunting solo ? That might speak volumes

[topher]

An old thread resurrected, but then again this is the time of the year on this board when "new hunter looking for help" posts start popping up.

I'm no ol' timer, but I do believe it is harder these days to get young hunters to commit. But its not so much for reasons of financial, family or time constraints. Its because of attitude. Slacker attitude.

I firmly believe in mentoring and creating opportunities for young hunters, and I make it my goal to help at least one newcomer every season. But I have also given up on helping hunters from internet boards like this one. I now only make the effort for family or people I meet; acquaintances, friends of friends, friend's kids, etc.

A decade ago I reached out to a stranger on this board who was looking for help. He has turned out to be a valued member of our hunt camp and a successful deer hunter who will someday be leader for other hunters. Unfortunately, he is also the exception.

I've since tried several times to create opportunities (big game, small game, clay sports) for other hunters who came to this board looking for help. But each of those subsequent experiences left me wondering why I bothered. To put it briefly, I've found too many who are all talk and no action. I convince my group to let a new guy in only to have the guy drop off the face of the earth never to be heard from again. Or I set up the hunt and the guy never shows while I'm waiting at 5:00 a.m., again without ever another word. I've actually seen some of the same slackers posting year after year.

Its too bad, because I'm sure that among the posters here looking for help there are some who are genuine and who would truly appreciate a break. I'm just tired of trying to find them among all the weeds.

And then there's people like me who don't have the financial ability due to kids and mortgage etc. But are willing to put in the extra time needed to make up for it, however a lot of people won't let you come in unless you have an ATV,truck,trailer.. Etc...
Be more.than willing to spend a weekend if time allowed swinging a hammer.. Or whatever.. Yes even fat young guys like me understand a team effort.

Yes your right ppl in the 20's and 30's have an "I deserve it attitude" but we are not ALL like that.

[Farmin n huntin]

yes... seems everyone say they want to join group until right before hunt. and if they do want to hunt, they want to hunt for free... times aren't changing times have changed.

[standup]

Is this from experience?

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LowbanksArcher]

I have to ask what is an "i-thing"

A little personal, don't ya think

[LowbanksArcher]

On the subject of recruiting young hunters, me being 21 and having never hunted moose, I was looking for a group to hunt with to show me the ropes, but from the people I talked to, their groups were tight-knit and didn't want "rookies" or "outsiders". That being said, I got together with 3 classmates and we put a group together and we pulled a bull and a cow tag...the test will be if we do it gain next year!

theres definitely young people wanting to hunt.

Good on you. My group is the same way. We all came from non-hunting families and started hunting in our early 20's. Started a moose group from scratch and we do things on a budget. Carport tent, yardsale woodstove, and little bit of redneck ingenuity here and there, and off we go.

[standup]

all I have to say is who is hunting solo ? That might speak volumes

No prob . The guy who's the one putting the meat on the ground while the children play should be the one with the meat (solo) while the children stay on their bottled ration

[greatwhite]

I'm thinking maybe I could trade the wife for an ATV.

And then there's people like me who don't have the financial ability due to kids and mortgage etc. But are willing to put in the extra time needed to make up for it, however a lot of people won't let you come in unless you have an ATV,truck,trailer.. Etc...
Be more.than willing to spend a weekend if time allowed swinging a hammer.. Or whatever.. Yes even fat young guys like me understand a team effort.

Yes your right ppl in the 20's and 30's have an "I deserve it attitude" but we are not ALL like that.

[oaknut]

I'm thinking maybe I could trade the wife for an ATV.

Ahhh I see you found some pot in the bush too. Surely you know that a woman is like a leased car? Once that ring is on there its the same as running over your alloted mileage, you must pay to return them. And pay dearly might I add.